Pat Cummins has taken 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
The Australian selection chief George Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on 21 November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the prospects of being involved.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and there are permutations at play, aside from his injury, but further aspects," the selector added.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a major part. With luck it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Injury History
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of back injuries, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of several home seasons in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to make the squad for the series.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but conceded it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the national team for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the initial game as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs in any case. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
