The Australian skipper has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chair of selectors the selector has confirmed that pace spearhead Cummins will be a central figure in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that the veteran bowler might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Earlier indications from the Australian camp suggested no official announcement had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series set to start on 21 November in Western Australia.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and remained hopeful about the prospects of taking part.
"We know that the window is narrowing and there are permutations involved, not just the physical problem, but other factors as well," he commented.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a key capacity. Ideally starting in Perth. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after examinations confirmed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of spinal problems, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the series.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the initial match.
Alternative Arrangements
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their limited-overs matches against India as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and confirmed that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to be available for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the starting games in any case. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
