The pace bowler has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
The Australian selection chief George Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest set to start on the 21st of November in Perth.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the likelihood of being involved.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations involved, not only his injury, but other factors as well," he commented.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a major part. Hopefully starting in Perth. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of spinal problems, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and stated that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the first Test as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the starting games anyway. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
