Pat Cummins has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chief selector George Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's Ashes series.
Speculation had been growing that Cummins might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on 21 November in the WACA.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about the likelihood of taking part.
"We know that time is getting short and multiple considerations at play, not just the back issue, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a major part. Hopefully starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from three Australian summers in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the contest.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to recover fully for the initial match.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs anyway. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for another day, we opted to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026