Pat Cummins has secured 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on November 21 in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and there are permutations involved, not only the back issue, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he will feature a significant role. Hopefully it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons forcing him out of three Australian summers in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the series.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the initial game as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the initial matches in any case. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
