Pat Cummins has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the five-Test series kicking off on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the likelihood of taking part.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and there are permutations involved, not just the physical problem, but further aspects," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a key capacity. Hopefully from the opening match. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of spinal problems, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons leading to absences from several home seasons in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the series.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a preventive step because of discomfort in his torso.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and mentioned that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the opening match as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs regardless. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
