Pat Cummins has taken 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
The Australian chair of selectors George Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on 21 November in Western Australia.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the likelihood of taking part.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations involved, aside from his injury, but other factors as well," he commented.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a key capacity. With luck starting in Perth. If not, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand last month after scans revealed a lower back issue.
He has a history of back injuries, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the contest.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but conceded it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the initial game as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games regardless. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for a short period, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
