The pace bowler has taken 309 wickets in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's selection chief George Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest set to start on November 21 in Western Australia.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the likelihood of participating.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and various factors at play, not just his injury, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a key capacity. Ideally it's the first Test. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of spinal problems, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the contest.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Backup Options
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against India as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and mentioned that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the initial game as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the initial matches anyway. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
