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The Australian chair of selectors George Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming historic rivalry.

Speculation had been growing that the veteran bowler might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that remained unresolved.

Earlier indications from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the five-Test series kicking off on the 21st of November in Western Australia.

He revealed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the prospects of being involved.

"We're aware that time is getting short and various factors at play, not just his injury, but other factors as well," the selector added.

"The outlook is good. [We are] really confident that he'll participate in a significant role. Hopefully it's the first Test. Otherwise, then we'll pick it up."

Past Concerns

Cummins was ruled out Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India recently after scans revealed a lower back issue.

There is a track record of back injuries, with flare-ups in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss several home seasons in a short span.

Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the contest.

Bailey noted that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his recovery but conceded it was "becoming urgent" for him to be fit for the first Test.

Contingency Plans

If he's unavailable, former captain Steve Smith will assume leadership.

Versatile player Green was withdrawn recently from Australia's squad for their one-day international series against the Asian giants as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.

He labeled it as a "small issue and confirmed that he'll feature in the state-level matches, so will be "well-prepared to resume bowling."

"Considerable effort has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the opening match as an batting and bowling option," Bailey explained.

"His involvement was limited to the initial matches regardless. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, even if it just sets him back for another day, the choice was made to adopt a safer strategy."

Match Calendar

The Historic Rivalry

21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026