Pat Cummins has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chief selector George Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's 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.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest set to start on November 21 in Western Australia.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the likelihood of participating.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and various factors around that, aside from his injury, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he will feature a major part. Hopefully from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand last month after scans revealed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of several home seasons in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the series.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Backup Options
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against India as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the starting games anyway. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
