The Australian skipper has taken 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series set to start on 21 November in Perth.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about his chances of taking part.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and there are permutations around that, not just the back issue, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he will feature a significant role. With luck from the opening match. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand recently after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss several home seasons in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
He mentioned that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the first Test as an all-rounder," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games in any case. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we opted to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
