The Australian skipper has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chief selector George Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series set to start on November 21 in Perth.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the likelihood of being involved.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations at play, aside from the physical problem, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he will feature a significant role. Ideally it's the first Test. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India recently after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of back injuries, with recurrences in multiple past seasons forcing him out of three Australian summers in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.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 "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"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.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games regardless. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for another day, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
