The Australian skipper has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chief selector George Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series kicking off on the 21st of November in Perth.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about his chances of participating.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and there are permutations at play, not only the physical problem, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a key capacity. With luck from the opening match. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of back injuries, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of several home seasons in a short span.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but conceded it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games anyway. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for another day, we opted to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
