In the absence of Pat Cummins, former Australian captain Steven Smith is set to return to the baggy greens’ leadership role for the upcoming away Test series against Sri Lanka. 

Currently, Pat Cummins-led Australia are hosting India in the five-match Test series Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, while the last Test will begin on Friday (January 3) at Sydney Cricket Ground. Australia are leading the Test series by 2-1, whereas the visitors India can only draw the series with their best possible result in the Sydney Test.  

Australia tour of Sri Lanka

While a draw result in the Sydney Test will end India’s hope to reach the ICC World Test Championship Final for the third straight time, Australia need only a win or two draw results in their last three Tests of the cycle. After completing the ongoing home Test series, Australia will travel to Sri Lanka for a two-match Test series and a solitary ODI. Galle will host both the Tests from January 29 and February 6, respectively.  

The two-match Test series in Sri Lanka will also be a part of the 2023-2025 ICC World Test Championship. It is only valuable if Australia fail to win the Sydney Test, as the Sydney Test win will help them to secure their place for the 2023-2025 ICC World Test Championship Final, even if they lose the Test series in Sri Lanka by 2-0. 

See Also: Pat Cummins Reveals Australia’s Strategy to Tackle Jasprit Bumrah in Sydney Test

Pat Cummins likely to miss Sri Lanka tour

Australian captain Pat Cummins is likely to miss the Sri Lanka tour due to the birth of his second child. In the absence of a regular skipper, the Test vice-captain Steven Smith is likely to take the leadership role of the team for the upcoming tour. 

Steven Smith's last Test captaincy was in India

While Smith last time led the Australian side in the Bristol ODI last September, his last Test captaincy was during the 2023 Ahmedabad Test against the hosts India. After the controversial 2018 Cape Town Test, where the Sandpapergate incident happened, Smith has led the Aussie Test team in four games.​