Pat Cummins has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series set to start on November 21 in Western Australia.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the prospects of participating.
"It's clear that time is getting short and various factors at play, aside from the back issue, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a major part. With luck starting in Perth. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India recently after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss several home seasons in four years.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to make the squad for the contest.
The selector indicated that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue 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 developing the strategy for him to be available for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs regardless. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for another day, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
