Pat Cummins has claimed 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
The Australian chair of selectors George Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's historic rivalry.
There were concerns that Cummins might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches kicking off on 21 November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the likelihood of taking part.
"We know that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations around that, not just the physical problem, but further aspects," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he will feature a major part. Hopefully from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Injury History
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from several home seasons in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against India as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the opening match as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the starting games in any case. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
