Pat Cummins has claimed 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chair of selectors the selector has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the Test matches kicking off on November 21 in the WACA.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the likelihood of being involved.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and various factors involved, aside from the back issue, but other factors as well," he commented.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a major part. Ideally it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand in the previous weeks after scans revealed a stress reaction in his back.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his recovery plan to ensure his availability for the series.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the opener.
Backup Options
In case of absence, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and confirmed that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the first Test as an all-rounder," the selector detailed.
"He was only going to play the initial matches in any case. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for 24 more hours, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
