The Australian skipper has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
Australia's selection chief George Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches set to start on the 21st of November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the prospects of participating.
"We're aware that time is getting short and there are permutations involved, not only the physical problem, but additional elements," he commented.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a significant role. Hopefully from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India recently after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from three Australian summers in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to make the squad for the contest.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but admitted it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against India as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "small issue and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the first Test as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the starting games regardless. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for a short period, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
