The pace bowler has taken 309 wickets in 71 five-day games with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector George Bailey has declared that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might sit out due to a stress fracture in his back that remained unresolved.
Previous updates from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest scheduled to begin on November 21 in Perth.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about his chances of being involved.
"We know that the window is narrowing and various factors involved, not only the back issue, but additional elements," he commented.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a significant role. With luck it's the first Test. Should that not happen, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
He was sidelined Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India recently after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from several home seasons in a short span.
He emphasized he would be ""aggressive" and "take risks" in his rehabilitation process to make the squad for the series.
He mentioned that it was unclear if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Backup Options
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
The talented all-rounder was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of discomfort in his torso.
He labeled 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."
"We put so much time has gone into developing the strategy for him to participate for the opening match as an dual-role player," he elaborated.
"He was only going to play the initial matches anyway. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for a short period, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
