The Australian skipper has taken 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chief selector George Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on November 21 in the WACA.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about the likelihood of participating.
"We're aware that time is getting short and various factors around that, aside from the back issue, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he will feature a major part. Ideally starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India last month after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the contest.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the national team for their ODI contests against India as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "small issue and mentioned that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the initial game as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs regardless. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for a short period, we opted to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
Australia vs England: The Ashes
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
