Cummins ‘heavily unlikely’ for Champions Trophy: Head coach McDonald

Pat Cummins unlikely for Champions Trophy, Steve Smith or Travis Head may lead Australia, squad changes expected.

Australia captain and pace spearhead Pat Cummins is "heavily unlikely" to be fit in time for this month's Champions Trophy, head coach Andrew McDonald has revealed, opening up the possibility of either Steve Smith or Travis Head leading the side.

Cummins hasn't been able to resume training after he missed the Test series in Sri Lanka due to the birth of his second child, while also nursing an ankle problem, which flared up during the gruelling five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India.

"Pat Cummins hasn't been able to resume any type of bowling so he's heavily unlikely, so that would mean that we do need a captain," ICC quoted McDonald as saying on SEN Radio.

"Steve Smith and Travis Head are the two that we've been having conversations with while we've been building out that Champions Trophy team along with Pat (Cummins) back home. They'll be the two that we look at for that leadership post," added McDonald.

The Champions Trophy will be held in Pakistan and UAE beginning February 19 in Karachi.

With Smith doing a commendable job in the first Test against Sri Lanka, leading the visitors to a massive innings and 242-run win at Galle recently, the onus could likely fall on him as he has served in leadership roles for a very long time before the 'sandpaper-gate' scandal broke out.

Head too has been in sublime form, playing a pivotal role in Australia's 3-1 series win in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy recently.