Pat Cummins has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chief selector George Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest kicking off on November 21 in Perth.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and felt positive about his chances of taking part.
"We know that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations around that, not just his injury, but additional elements," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a major part. Ideally it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Injury History
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lower back issue.
He has a history of recurring issues, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons causing him to miss several home seasons in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the national team for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and confirmed that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs regardless. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for another day, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
