Pat Cummins has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that Cummins might miss the series due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the likelihood of taking part.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and various factors around that, aside from the physical problem, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a key capacity. Ideally starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India last month after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of spinal problems, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to secure his spot for the contest.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and stated that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the initial game as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches anyway. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
