Pat Cummins has secured 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chief selector George Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in the WACA.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the likelihood of being involved.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and there are permutations involved, not only the back issue, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a major part. Hopefully starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Injury History
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss several home seasons in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to make the squad for the contest.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against India as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and stated that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the initial matches anyway. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for a short period, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
