The pace bowler has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector George Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series set to start on 21 November in Perth.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about his chances of participating.
"We know that time is getting short and there are permutations involved, not only his injury, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a key capacity. Ideally starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India last month after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
He has a history of spinal problems, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from three Australian summers in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the series.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the national team for their ODI contests against India as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and confirmed that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs regardless. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for another day, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
