Pat Cummins has claimed 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector George Bailey has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest kicking off on 21 November in Perth.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about his chances of taking part.
"We know that time is getting short and various factors around that, not just the physical problem, but additional elements," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he's going to play a major part. Ideally it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India recently after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of three Australian summers in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the series.
He mentioned that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and confirmed that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the starting games in any case. The way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for another day, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
