The Australian skipper has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chief selector George Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches set to start on November 21 in Perth.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of being involved.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations around that, aside from his injury, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a significant role. With luck from the opening match. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India recently after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of back injuries, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the contest.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the national team for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and stated that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the first Test as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games in any case. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for a short period, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
