The pace bowler has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 Test matches with an impressive average.
The Australian chief selector George Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure in this winter's historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might be unavailable due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding Cummins' participation, with the Test matches kicking off on the 21st of November in the WACA.
Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the prospects of participating.
"We're aware that the clock is ticking and various factors at play, not only his injury, but further aspects," he commented.
"We're encouraged. We firmly believe that he will feature a major part. Ideally from the opening match. If not, then we'll pick it up."
Injury History
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against India and New Zealand last month after medical tests showed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of back injuries, with recurrences in several earlier campaigns leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in a short span.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to secure his spot for the contest.
He mentioned that he did not know if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.
Contingency Plans
In case of absence, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
The talented all-rounder was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their one-day international series against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
The selector characterized it as a "slight concern and stated that he'll feature in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"We put so much time has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the initial game as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the initial matches anyway. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, the choice was made to take a cautious route."
Match Calendar
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
