The pace bowler has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector George Bailey has declared that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest kicking off on November 21 in the WACA.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the likelihood of taking part.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations around that, not only his injury, but other factors as well," he commented.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a major part. With luck starting in Perth. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of back injuries, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons forcing him out of several home seasons in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the contest.
Bailey noted that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the first Test as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the starting games regardless. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Ashes: Australia v England
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
