Pat Cummins has claimed over 300 dismissals in 71 appearances with an impressive average.
Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey has confirmed that skipper Cummins will play a "major part" in this winter's England-Australia contest.
There were concerns that Cummins might be unavailable due to a persistent back stress problem that had not yet healed.
Previous updates from the squad suggested no definitive call had been made regarding his involvement, with the five-Test series scheduled to begin on November 21 in Western Australia.
The selector shared that Cummins is "building up" and remained hopeful about the prospects of being involved.
"We know that time is getting short and multiple considerations involved, not only his injury, but additional elements," the selector added.
"It's positive. [We are] really confident that he's going to play a key capacity. Hopefully it's the first Test. Otherwise, we'll reassess."
Past Concerns
Cummins was ruled out the white-ball matches against New Zealand and India last month after examinations confirmed a lower back issue.
There is a track record of recurring issues, with flare-ups in several earlier campaigns forcing him out of several home seasons in a short span.
Cummins stated he would be proactive in his approach in his comeback strategy to ensure his availability for the contest.
Bailey noted that there was no confirmation if he had started his bowling workouts as part of his rehabilitation but admitted it was "getting tight" for him to recover fully for the opener.
Alternative Arrangements
In case of absence, ex-skipper Smith will lead the side.
All-rounder Cameron Green was withdrawn recently from the ODI lineup for their limited-overs matches against the subcontinent side as a safety move because of an abdominal issue.
He labeled it as a "slight concern and mentioned that he's scheduled to appear in the Sheffield Shield, so will be "ideally positioned to resume bowling."
"Extensive planning has gone into creating the schedule for him to participate for the initial game as an dual-role player," the selector detailed.
"Originally, he'd only feature in the first two ODIs anyway. His aggressive style the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, should it hinder progress for a short period, we opted to take a cautious route."
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