Pat Cummins has claimed 309 Test scalps 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 historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on November 21 in Western Australia.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the prospects of taking part.
"We know that time is getting short and there are permutations involved, aside from his injury, but further aspects," he commented.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he's going to play a key capacity. Ideally from the opening match. If not, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after scans revealed a lower back issue.
He has a history of back injuries, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of several home seasons in four years.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the series.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and mentioned that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the opening match as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs regardless. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
