The Australian skipper has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's selection chief George Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might sit out 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 kicking off on 21 November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of being involved.
"We're aware that time is getting short and there are permutations involved, not just his injury, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he's going to play a major part. Ideally it's the first Test. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand recently after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of three Australian summers in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the series.
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 recover fully for the first Test.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "small issue and stated that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the initial game as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches anyway. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
