The Australian skipper has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chair of selectors Bailey has stated that pace spearhead Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest set to start on the 21st of November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and remained hopeful about his chances of participating.
"It's clear that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations around that, not only the back issue, but additional elements," he commented.
"We're encouraged. There's strong faith that he'll participate in a significant role. Hopefully it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the ODI and T20 games against New Zealand and India recently after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
Previous incidents include of recurring issues, with flare-ups in multiple past seasons causing him to miss 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 he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but admitted it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Alternative Arrangements
If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the national team for their ODI contests against India as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "minor" injury and confirmed that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to be available for the first Test as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches anyway. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for another day, we opted to approach this more conservatively."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
