The pace bowler has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector George Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on November 21 in Perth.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about his chances of participating.
"We know that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations involved, aside from the physical problem, but other factors as well," he commented.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he will feature a major part. Ideally starting in Perth. If not, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the Ashes.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Backup Options
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the national team for their ODI contests against India as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled 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."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the initial game as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs in any case. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for another day, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
