Pat Cummins has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
The Australian selection chief George Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on 21 November in Western Australia.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about his chances of taking part.
"We know that time is getting short and there are permutations at play, not just his injury, but additional elements," the selector added.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a key capacity. Hopefully from the opening match. If not, we'll adjust."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with setbacks in multiple past seasons causing him to miss several home seasons in four years.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the series.
Bailey noted that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Backup Options
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against India as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the opening match as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs in any case. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for a short period, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
