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The Australian chair of selectors the selector has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming Ashes series.

There were concerns that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.

Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest set to start on 21 November in Western Australia.

The selector shared that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the prospects of taking part.

"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations involved, not only the physical problem, but additional elements," he commented.

"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a major part. With luck it's the first Test. If not, then we'll pick it up."

Past Concerns

Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.

There is a track record of spinal problems, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss three Australian summers in a limited period.

The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the Ashes.

He mentioned that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the opener.

Alternative Arrangements

Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.

The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.

He labeled it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."

"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the opening match as an all-rounder," he elaborated.

"His involvement was limited to the initial matches in any case. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for a short period, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."

Series Schedule

The Ashes: Australia v England

Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026