Pat Cummins has secured 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chair of selectors George Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series kicking off on the 21st of November in the WACA.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the prospects of participating.
"We know that time is getting short and there are permutations involved, aside from the back issue, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a key capacity. With luck from the opening match. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India recently after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of spinal problems, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from several home seasons in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their ODI contests against India as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the initial game as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches regardless. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for a short period, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
