Pat Cummins has taken over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement 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 his chances of taking part.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations at play, not only his injury, but additional elements," the selector added.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he will feature a significant role. Ideally starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of several home seasons in a short span.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to make the squad for the contest.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the opener.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the national team for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "small issue and confirmed that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the opening match as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the initial matches anyway. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for a short period, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
