The pace bowler has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
The Australian chair of selectors George Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series set to start on November 21 in Perth.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the prospects of being involved.
"We know that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations around that, not just the physical problem, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he's going to play a significant role. Hopefully starting in Perth. If not, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
He has a history of back injuries, with recurrences in multiple past seasons forcing him out of three Australian summers in a short span.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the contest.
He mentioned that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "small issue and mentioned that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the initial game as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches regardless. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026