The pace bowler has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief George Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that Cummins might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Perth.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about his chances of being involved.
"We know that time is getting short and multiple considerations involved, aside from the back issue, but further aspects," he commented.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he will feature a major part. Hopefully starting in Perth. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
The captain missed the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India recently after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
He has a history of back injuries, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons forcing him out of three Australian summers in four years.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the Ashes.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against India as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the first Test as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs in any case. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for another day, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
