Pat Cummins has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has stated that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches set to start on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about the prospects of being involved.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and there are permutations around that, aside from the back issue, but additional elements," he commented.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he will feature a key capacity. Hopefully starting in Perth. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of back injuries, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the series.
He mentioned that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the opening match as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches regardless. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
