The Australian skipper has secured 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chair of selectors the selector has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series kicking off on November 21 in the WACA.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the prospects of participating.
"We know that time is getting short and there are permutations involved, not just his injury, but additional elements," he commented.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he will feature a significant role. Hopefully from the opening match. If not, we'll reassess."
Injury History
The captain missed the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand last month after medical tests showed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss three Australian summers in four years.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to make the squad for the series.
He mentioned that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and stated that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the first Test as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches anyway. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for another day, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
