Pat Cummins has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
The Australian chair of selectors George Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on November 21 in Western Australia.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the likelihood of participating.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and various factors involved, aside from his injury, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he will feature a significant role. Hopefully starting in Perth. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss three Australian summers in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against India as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs in any case. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for another day, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
