The pace bowler has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector George Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches set to start on 21 November in Western Australia.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about the prospects of being involved.
"We know that the window is narrowing and there are permutations around that, not just the physical problem, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he's going to play a key capacity. With luck starting in Perth. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
He has a history of spinal problems, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of several home seasons in four years.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to make the squad for the series.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the initial game as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches regardless. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, 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
