Pat Cummins has taken 309 Test scalps 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 forthcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on November 21 in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the prospects of participating.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations around that, not only his injury, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a major part. With luck from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India recently after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with recurrences in multiple past seasons leading to absences from several home seasons in four years.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but conceded it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the initial game as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games in any case. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
