The Australian skipper has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming Ashes series.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series set to start on the 21st of November in the WACA.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and felt positive about the prospects of taking part.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and there are permutations at play, not just the back issue, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a major part. With luck it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Injury History
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India recently after scans revealed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include 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.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to make the squad for the series.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the national team for their limited-overs matches against India as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.
"He was only going to play the starting games regardless. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
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