The Australian skipper has taken 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector George Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest kicking off on November 21 in Perth.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about his chances of participating.
"We're aware that time is getting short and various factors involved, not only the physical problem, but additional elements," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a key capacity. Ideally it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Injury History
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the national team for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs in any case. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for a short period, we opted to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
