Pat Cummins has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
The Australian chair of selectors George Bailey has confirmed that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that Cummins might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding whether he would play, with the Test matches scheduled to begin on November 21 in Perth.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the likelihood of taking part.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations involved, not only his injury, but other factors as well," he commented.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a key capacity. With luck it's the first Test. If not, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
There is a track record of spinal problems, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons causing him to miss several home seasons in four years.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the series.
The selector indicated that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but admitted it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into building out the plan for him to be available for the initial game as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the starting games regardless. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for another day, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
