The pace bowler has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief George Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that Cummins might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating.
"We know that time is getting short and various factors around that, aside from the back issue, but other factors as well," he commented.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a key capacity. With luck from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with recurrences in multiple past seasons leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the national team for their ODI contests against India as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the first Test as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs in any case. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for another day, we opted to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
