Australia's captain Poised for a Key Part in Ashes Series
The pace bowler has claimed 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief George Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's historic rivalry.
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 final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches kicking off on November 21 in Perth.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the prospects of participating.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and various factors involved, not just the physical problem, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he will feature a major part. With luck starting in Perth. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
He has a history of recurring issues, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss several home seasons in four years.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the series.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games in any case. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
