Pat Cummins has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chief selector George Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Perth.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and felt positive about his chances of taking part.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations at play, aside from the back issue, but additional elements," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he's going to play a major part. Ideally from the opening match. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss three Australian summers in a short span.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the contest.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the first Test.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against India as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and stated that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the first Test as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the initial matches regardless. The way he swings the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for another day, we opted to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
