Pat Cummins has taken 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chief selector George Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches set to start on 21 November in the WACA.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the prospects of participating.
"It's clear that time is getting short and various factors involved, aside from the back issue, but additional elements," he commented.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a significant role. Hopefully from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Injury History
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand recently after scans revealed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss several home seasons in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the contest.
The selector indicated that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against India as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "small issue and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the first Test as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs in any case. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for another day, we opted to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
