The pace bowler has taken 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chief selector the selector has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins 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 Test matches kicking off on 21 November in the WACA.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about his chances of participating.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations involved, not only his injury, but additional elements," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a key capacity. Hopefully it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Injury History
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand recently after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss several home seasons in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the series.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "small issue and confirmed that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs in any case. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for another day, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
