The pace bowler has claimed 309 Test scalps in 71 appearances with an average of 22.10.
The Australian chief selector George Bailey has stated that captain Pat Cummins will have a crucial role in the upcoming historic rivalry.
Rumors had circulated that Cummins might be unavailable due to a stress fracture in his back that was still troubling him.
Previous updates from team management suggested no final decision had been made regarding whether he would play, with the extended contest set to start on 21 November in the WACA.
The selector shared that his recovery is on track and felt positive about the prospects of being involved.
"We know that the clock is ticking and multiple considerations around that, not just the physical problem, but further aspects," the selector added.
"It's positive. There's strong faith that he's going to play a major part. Ideally 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 examinations confirmed a stress reaction in his back.
Previous incidents include of spinal problems, with recurrences in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2015-16 leading to absences from multiple domestic campaigns in four years.
The bowler mentioned he would be proactive in his approach in his rehabilitation process to ensure his availability for the contest.
He mentioned that there was no confirmation if the captain had resumed bowling as part of his comeback but acknowledged it was "getting tight" for him to regain fitness for the initial match.
Contingency Plans
Should Cummins not be fit, ex-skipper Smith will assume leadership.
All-rounder Cameron Green was recently pulled out from the national team for their limited-overs matches against India as a safety move because of soreness in his side.
He labeled it as a "small issue and confirmed that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "in a good place 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," Bailey explained.
"His involvement was limited to the initial matches regardless. His aggressive style the bat in limited-overs, if it causes any delay for 24 more hours, the choice was made to approach this more conservatively."
Series Schedule
The Historic Rivalry
From November 21, 2025 to January 7, 2026
