The Australian skipper has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
Australia's chief selector George Bailey has declared that pace spearhead Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
There were concerns that Cummins might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that remained unresolved.
Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on 21 November in the WACA.
He revealed that the captain is progressing and was "optimistic" about his chances of participating.
"We know that the clock is ticking and there are permutations at play, aside from his injury, but additional elements," he commented.
"It's positive. We firmly believe that he's going to play a significant role. Ideally starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Injury History
Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals recently after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of recurring issues, with setbacks in multiple past seasons leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to make the squad for the contest.
He mentioned that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his recovery but conceded it was "getting tight" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, former captain Steve Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled it as a "small issue and mentioned that Green will play in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "in a good place to resume bowling."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to take part for the first Test as an batting and bowling option," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the first two ODIs regardless. How he handles the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, if it causes any delay for a short period, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
