Pat Cummins has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
The Australian selection chief George Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest kicking off on 21 November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the prospects of being involved.
"We're aware that time is getting short and there are permutations around that, aside from the physical problem, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he will feature a major part. Ideally starting in Perth. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India recently after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the contest.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and mentioned that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the first Test as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches anyway. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for a short period, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
