Pat Cummins has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chair of selectors the selector has declared that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about his chances of being involved.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations involved, not only his injury, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he's going to play a key capacity. With luck starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Injury History
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand last month after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons causing him to miss three Australian summers in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the series.
The selector indicated that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and stated that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the initial game as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games regardless. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for another day, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
