The pace bowler has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief George Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches kicking off on the 21st of November in the WACA.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the prospects of participating.
"We know that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations around that, not just the back issue, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a significant role. With luck it's the first Test. If not, we'll adjust."
Injury History
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand last month after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the starting games in any case. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for a short period, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026