The Australian skipper has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chair of selectors George Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might sit out due to a persistent back stress problem that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on November 21 in the WACA.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the prospects of taking part.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and multiple considerations around that, aside from his injury, but additional elements," he commented.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he will feature a significant role. Ideally it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India last month after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the contest.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against India as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and stated that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the first Test as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches anyway. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for another day, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
