Pat Cummins has claimed 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector George Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest kicking off on November 21 in the WACA.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the prospects of participating.
"We know that the clock is ticking and various factors involved, aside from the physical problem, but additional elements," he commented.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he's going to play a key capacity. Hopefully starting in Perth. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand last month after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
He has a history of recurring issues, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of three Australian summers in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Backup Options
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the first Test as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs regardless. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for a short period, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
