Pat Cummins has taken 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's chief selector George Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming historic rivalry.
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.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches kicking off on the 21st of November in Perth.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and felt positive about his chances of taking part.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and there are permutations involved, not only the physical problem, but additional elements," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a significant role. Hopefully it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand recently after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to make the squad for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches regardless. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for another day, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
