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Australia's selection chief George Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will be a central figure 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 the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series kicking off on the 21st of November in Western Australia.

Bailey expressed that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the likelihood of being involved.

"We're aware that time is getting short and there are permutations involved, aside from the physical problem, but other factors as well," he commented.

"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he will feature a significant role. Hopefully starting in Perth. Should that not happen, we'll adjust."

Past Concerns

The captain missed the ODI and T20 games against both Asian and Trans-Tasman rivals last month after medical tests showed a stress reaction in his back.

Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with setbacks in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 causing him to miss three Australian summers in a short span.

He emphasized he would be bold in recovery efforts in his recovery plan to make the squad for the contest.

Bailey noted that he did not know if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to regain fitness for the first Test.

Backup Options

If he's unavailable, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.

All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from the ODI lineup for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a precautionary measure because of soreness in his side.

Bailey described it as a "minor" injury and stated that Green will play in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to deliver overs."

"Extensive planning has gone into building out the plan for him to participate for the opening match as an all-rounder," he elaborated.

"He was only going to play the initial matches regardless. How he handles the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for another day, we opted to take a cautious route."

Series Schedule

The Historic Rivalry

Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026