The Australian skipper has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
Australia's chief selector George Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on November 21 in Western Australia.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of being involved.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and various factors around that, not just the back issue, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"The outlook is good. There's strong faith that he's going to play a key capacity. Ideally starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Previous Setbacks
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of back injuries, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of several home seasons in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the series.
Bailey noted that it was unclear if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but admitted it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the opener.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "small issue and confirmed that Green will play in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches anyway. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for a short period, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
