The pace bowler has secured 309 wickets 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 the forthcoming Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest kicking off on November 21 in Perth.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about his chances of taking part.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations involved, not only the physical problem, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a significant role. With luck it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India last month after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of recurring issues, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from three Australian summers in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the contest.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and stated that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the opening match as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs anyway. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
