Pat Cummins likely to miss Sri Lanka tour

Pat Cummins, Australia’s Test captain, is expected to miss the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka as he prioritizes his family, with the birth of his second child on the way. Despite this, there is no indication that his leadership as captain is coming to an end.  

Under Cummins, Australia has achieved significant success, including winning both the ODI and T20 World Cups and reclaiming the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a 3-1 series win over India. Their recent six-wicket victory at the SCG secured all bilateral trophies for Australia and set up a World Test Championship (WTC) final against South Africa.  

When asked if he felt he had "completed cricket" after such accomplishments, Cummins said, "First of all, I absolutely love what I do. That’s the biggest driver in wanting to play Test cricket and work with this team and support staff. I absolutely love everything about it; it’s that much fun. If I can keep doing it for a while, even better."  

With Cummins likely unavailable for the Sri Lanka tour, Steven Smith is expected to take over as captain temporarily. Smith has stepped into the role four times before and is well-prepared for the challenge.  

Although Cummins initially hinted at a shorter tenure when he became captain in 2021, he remains motivated to lead the team, especially with major events like the 2027 away Test tours of India and England on the horizon.  

The Australian team has faced criticism during Cummins' captaincy, particularly after their heavy loss in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar series. There were claims of tension within the squad, and some questioned the team’s preparation as players, including Cummins, skipped white-ball matches before the series.  

However, Cummins' leadership shone as the team bounced back to dominate the series. His tactical decisions, especially during the dramatic win at the MCG, have been widely praised.  

"When you start a series behind, a lot of things get questioned, fairly and unfairly," Cummins reflected. "But I think it shows a strength of the group to stay strong. We knew we weren’t at our best, but we can be better."