Pat Cummins has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chief selector George Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Perth.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and felt positive about the likelihood of participating.
"It's clear that the window is narrowing and various factors involved, not just the physical problem, but further aspects," the selector added.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a significant role. Ideally from the opening match. If not, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss several home seasons in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to secure his spot for the contest.
He mentioned that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but conceded it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and stated that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the first Test as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs in any case. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
