The pace bowler has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
The Australian chair of selectors the selector has stated that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that Cummins might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on 21 November in Perth.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about his chances of being involved.
"It's clear that time is getting short and various factors around that, not only the physical problem, but additional elements," he commented.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he will feature a major part. Ideally starting in Perth. If not, we'll reassess."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand last month after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss three Australian summers in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the contest.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the opener.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the national team for their one-day international series against India as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and confirmed that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the first Test as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the initial matches anyway. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for a short period, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
