The pace bowler has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chief selector George Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Previous updates 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 Western Australia.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the likelihood of being involved.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and there are permutations at play, not only the physical problem, but additional elements," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a key capacity. Ideally starting in Perth. If not, we'll adjust."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss three Australian summers in a short span.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the contest.
Bailey noted that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and confirmed that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs regardless. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for a short period, we opted to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
