The pace bowler has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector George Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in this winter's historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on November 21 in Perth.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and felt positive about his chances of taking part.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and various factors at play, not just the back issue, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he will feature a significant role. Hopefully from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons forcing him out of three Australian summers in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the contest.
The selector indicated that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and mentioned 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 be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the initial matches regardless. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for another day, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
