Pat Cummins has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's selection chief the selector has confirmed that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that Cummins might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest set to start on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about the likelihood of being involved.
"It's clear that time is getting short and various factors at play, aside from the physical problem, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he will feature a major part. Hopefully it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
He has a history of spinal problems, with recurrences in multiple past seasons leading to absences from three Australian summers in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
He mentioned that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the first Test as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games anyway. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for a short period, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
