Pat Cummins has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's selection chief George Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series set to start on November 21 in Perth.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about his chances of being involved.
"We're aware that time is getting short and there are permutations around that, not only his injury, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a key capacity. Hopefully from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India last month after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of back injuries, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons causing him to miss three Australian summers in four years.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the contest.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against India as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games regardless. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for a short period, we opted to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
