The pace bowler has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has declared that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest set to start on 21 November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about his chances of taking part.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and there are permutations involved, not only his injury, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he will feature a significant role. Hopefully it's the first Test. If not, we'll reassess."
Injury History
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of back injuries, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss three Australian summers in a short span.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the series.
He mentioned that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Backup Options
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and stated that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the first Test as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches anyway. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for another day, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
