The Australian skipper has claimed 309 wickets in 71 Test matches with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's chief selector George Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from team management suggested no official announcement had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest kicking off on November 21 in the WACA.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about his chances of taking part.
"It's clear that time is getting short and various factors involved, aside from the physical problem, but other factors as well," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a significant role. Hopefully starting in Perth. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against India and New Zealand recently after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of back injuries, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of several home seasons in four years.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the series.
The selector indicated that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but conceded it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the opener.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and mentioned that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to take part for the opening match as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs regardless. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for a short period, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
