The pace bowler has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chief selector George Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Perth.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and was "optimistic" about his chances of being involved.
"We know that the clock is ticking and various factors involved, not just the back issue, but further aspects," he commented.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a major part. With luck it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after scans revealed a lower back issue.
He has a history of recurring issues, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from three Australian summers in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the series.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against India as a preventive step because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the initial game as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games regardless. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for another day, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
