The pace bowler has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on 21 November in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating.
"We know that time is getting short and various factors involved, not only the back issue, but other factors as well," he commented.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he will feature a key capacity. With luck from the opening match. If not, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India last month after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the initial game as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs in any case. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for a short period, we opted to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
