Pat Cummins has secured over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey has stated that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in the forthcoming England-Australia contest.
Speculation had been growing that the 32-year-old might sit out due to a ongoing back issue that had not yet healed.
Earlier indications from the squad suggested no final decision had been made regarding his involvement, with the extended contest set to start on 21 November in the WACA.
He revealed that his recovery is on track and was "optimistic" about the prospects of taking part.
"We're aware that the window is narrowing and there are permutations around that, aside from his injury, but further aspects," the selector added.
"We're encouraged. [We are] really confident that he will feature a key capacity. Hopefully it's the first Test. If not, we'll adjust."
Past Concerns
The captain missed Australia's limited-overs series against New Zealand and India recently after scans revealed a lumbar bone stress.
He has a history of back injuries, with setbacks in several earlier campaigns causing him to miss three Australian summers in a limited period.
Cummins stated he would be bold in recovery efforts in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the series.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if Cummins had begun bowling as part of his recovery but acknowledged it was "pressing" for him to be fit for the first Test.
Backup Options
If he's unavailable, veteran batsman Smith will take over the captaincy.
All-rounder Cameron Green was excluded lately from Australia's squad for their ODI contests against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of discomfort in his torso.
The selector characterized it as a "small issue and confirmed that he'll feature in the domestic first-class competition, so will be "well-prepared to be ready to bowl."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to take part for the initial game as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"His involvement was limited to the first two ODIs in any case. His aggressive style the willow in shorter formats, should it hinder progress for another day, we just made the decision to take a cautious route."
Fixture Details
The Historic Rivalry
Spanning from late 2025 to early 2026
