Pat Cummins has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief George Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp 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.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the likelihood of participating.
"We're aware that time is getting short and various factors at play, not just the physical problem, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he will feature a major part. Hopefully it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India last month after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with recurrences in multiple past seasons forcing him out of several home seasons in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the contest.
Bailey noted that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the national team for their one-day international series against India as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the opening match as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs anyway. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for a short period, we opted to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
