The Australian skipper has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian selection chief George Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Initial reports from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on November 21 in Western Australia.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about the likelihood of participating.
"We know that time is getting short and various factors around that, not just the physical problem, but additional elements," he commented.
"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he will feature a key capacity. With luck starting in Perth. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of back injuries, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the contest.
He mentioned that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to deliver overs."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches in any case. The way he swings the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for a short period, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
