Pat Cummins has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
Australia's selection chief George Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure 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 was still troubling him.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches set to start on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about his chances of being involved.
"We know that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations around that, not just the physical problem, but further aspects," Bailey remarked.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a significant role. With luck from the opening match. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India last month after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of spinal problems, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss several home seasons in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the contest.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against India as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "small issue and mentioned that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the first Test as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs anyway. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
