Pat Cummins has claimed 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
Australia's chief selector the selector has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series set to start on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the prospects of taking part.
"We're aware that time is getting short and multiple considerations involved, not just the back issue, but other factors as well," he commented.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a key capacity. Ideally it's the first Test. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand last month after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons leading to absences from several home seasons in four years.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the series.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "small issue and mentioned that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs anyway. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for another day, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
