Pat Cummins has secured 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's selection chief George Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series set to start on the 21st of November in the WACA.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about his chances of taking part.
"We're aware that time is getting short and there are permutations at play, not only the physical problem, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a major part. Hopefully starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons causing him to miss several home seasons in four years.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the series.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against India as a preventive step because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "small issue and confirmed that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the initial game as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games in any case. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
