Heading into his final Test series before bowing out of red-ball cricket, David Warner will open the batting alongside Usman Khawaja at Optus Stadium.
Cummins had no hesitation in batting first in Australia's first Test since retaining the Ashes in July.
Pat Cummins had no hesitation in putting Australia into bat against Pakistan in the first Test. (Richard Wainwright/AAP PHOTOS)
"We've played a lot of cricket together and this year has been special," he said.
"We play pretty well here (in Perth), have a good record. An Aussie ground with pace and bounce."
Star spinner Nathan Lyon returns for his first Test since tearing his calf at Lord's in June.
Lyon's inclusion to replace young offspinner Todd Murphy is Australia's only change since they lost the final Test of the Ashes at The Oval.
Nathan Lyon returns to Australia's Test side for the first time since the Ashes. (Richard Wainwright/AAP PHOTOS)
Newly minted Pakistan captain Shan Masood liked the look of the pitch and would have batted if he had won the toss.
The tourists are attempting to win their first Test on Australian soil since 1995.
"You have to put the toss aside and put in a good bowling performance," Masood said.
"We've had some ideal preparation and some match practice.
"We want to play more Test cricket, it's the pinnacle. We have some world-class players in the side."
Pace bowlers Aamir Jamal and Khurram Shahzad have been called in to make their Test debut, teaming up with star quick Shaheen Afridi.
There was no room for veteran spinner Noman Ali, while Sarfaraz Ahmed was the preferred wicketkeeper, with Mohammad Rizwan dropped.
AUSTRALIA: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (capt), Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
PAKISTAN: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood (capt), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Aamir Jamal, Khurram Shahzad.
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