The Australian skipper has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches set to start on the 21st of November in the WACA.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating.
"We know that the window is narrowing and various factors around that, not only his injury, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he's going to play a major part. With luck starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India last month after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of back injuries, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss several home seasons in four years.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the series.
Bailey noted that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the opener.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against India as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the opening match as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the initial matches anyway. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
Australia vs England: The Ashes
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
