Pat Cummins has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's selection chief the selector has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series kicking off on November 21 in Perth.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the likelihood of taking part.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and various factors involved, not just the back issue, but other factors as well," he commented.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a key capacity. With luck from the opening match. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand last month after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the national team for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs regardless. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026