Pat Cummins has claimed 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chair of selectors the selector has declared that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about his chances of being involved.
"It's clear that time is getting short and there are permutations around that, aside from his injury, but further aspects," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a major part. Hopefully it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the contest.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against India as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and mentioned that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the first Test as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the starting games in any case. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for a short period, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
