Pat Cummins has taken 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chief selector George Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series set to start on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about his chances of taking part.
"We know that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations involved, not only his injury, but further aspects," the selector added.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a significant role. Hopefully starting in Perth. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of several home seasons in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the series.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the national team for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and stated that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games regardless. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for another day, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
