The pace bowler has taken 309 Test scalps in 71 five-day games with an stellar bowling average.
The Australian chief selector George Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will have a crucial role in the forthcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might miss the series due to a ongoing back issue that was still troubling him.
Initial reports from the Australian camp suggested no definitive call had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches set to start on the 21st of November in the WACA.
The selector shared that the captain is progressing and felt positive about his chances of participating.
"We know that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations at play, aside from the physical problem, but additional elements," the selector added.
"The outlook is good. We firmly believe that he'll participate in a key capacity. Hopefully from the opening match. Otherwise, we'll adjust."
Previous Setbacks
The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
He has a history of spinal problems, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss several home seasons in a limited period.
He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the contest.
He mentioned that he did not know if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his rehabilitation but conceded it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the opener.
Backup Options
Should Cummins not be fit, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was recently pulled out from the national team for their ODI contests against the Asian giants as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
Bailey described it as a "small issue and mentioned that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the opening match as an dual-role player," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs anyway. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for another day, we just made the decision to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
