Pat Cummins has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chief selector the selector has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming Ashes series.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches kicking off on November 21 in Perth.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about the prospects of participating.
"We know that time is getting short and various factors at play, not only his injury, but further aspects," he commented.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he will feature a key capacity. With luck starting in Perth. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India recently after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of spinal problems, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss three Australian summers in a limited period.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to make the squad for the contest.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the initial matches in any case. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, we opted to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
