The pace bowler has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chief selector George Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest kicking off on November 21 in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of taking part.
"We know that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations around that, not only the physical problem, but further aspects," he commented.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a key capacity. Hopefully starting in Perth. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from several home seasons in a short span.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the contest.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against India as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the initial game as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches regardless. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for another day, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
