The Australian skipper has taken 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches kicking off on 21 November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the prospects of participating.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and various factors involved, not just the back issue, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a major part. Hopefully from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand last month after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from several home seasons in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the series.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.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 "small issue and confirmed that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the initial matches 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 approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
