Pat Cummins has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's selection chief George Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series set to start on 21 November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the likelihood of being involved.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations around that, not just the physical problem, but additional elements," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a major part. Ideally starting in Perth. If not, 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 lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of several home seasons in a short span.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the contest.
Bailey noted that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but conceded it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and stated that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the initial game as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs in any case. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
