The pace bowler has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
Australia's selection chief George Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the prospects of taking part.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and various factors around that, aside from his injury, but other factors as well," Bailey remarked.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a key capacity. Ideally it's the first Test. Should that not happen, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons forcing him out of several home seasons in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the series.
The selector indicated that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
Versatile player Green was excluded lately from the national team for their limited-overs matches against India as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and stated that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the initial game as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs anyway. How he handles the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for another day, we opted to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
