Pat Cummins has claimed 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chair of selectors George Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest set to start on 21 November in the WACA.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about his chances of taking part.
"We know that time is getting short and there are permutations involved, not only his injury, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he will feature a key capacity. With luck starting in Perth. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand recently after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of three Australian summers in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the contest.
He mentioned that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled 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 creating the schedule for him to participate for the opening match as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the initial matches anyway. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for another day, we opted to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
