The pace bowler has taken 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
Australia's selection chief George Bailey has confirmed 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 ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series kicking off on November 21 in Perth.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about the prospects of being involved.
"We know that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations around that, not just his injury, but additional elements," the selector added.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he will feature a major part. Hopefully it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand recently after scans revealed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with recurrences in multiple past seasons leading to absences from several home seasons in a short span.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the contest.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Backup Options
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the national team for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the opening match as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"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 a short period, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
