Pat Cummins has claimed 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chief selector George Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on 21 November in Perth.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the likelihood of participating.
"It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations around that, not only his injury, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a key capacity. With luck from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India recently after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman 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All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and mentioned that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the opening match as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs in any case. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for another day, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
