Pat Cummins has claimed 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an average of 22.10.
The Australian selection chief the selector has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest set to start on 21 November in the WACA.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the prospects of taking part.
"We know that the window is narrowing and various factors at play, not only the physical problem, but additional elements," he commented.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he will feature a significant role. Hopefully starting in Perth. If not, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
The captain missed the white-ball matches against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss several home seasons in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the contest.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the opener.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the first Test as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs anyway. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for a short period, we just made the decision to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
