The Australian skipper has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will be a central figure in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Initial reports from team management suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on November 21 in the WACA.
He revealed that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about the prospects of being involved.
"It's clear that time is getting short and multiple considerations at play, not only the back issue, but further aspects," he commented.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a significant role. Hopefully from the opening match. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India in the previous weeks after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 forcing him out of multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
He emphasized he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the series.
The selector indicated that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will lead the side.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "slight concern and confirmed that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Considerable effort has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the first Test as an all-rounder," he elaborated.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches in any case. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for a short period, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
