Australia could be in need for a new captain at the Champions Trophy after revelations Pat Cummins is "heavily unlikely" to play in the tournament.
Cummins has an ankle issue that was managed during the summer and was part of him being ruled out of the Sri Lanka tour.
Upon naming the squad for Sri Lanka, chairman of selectors George Bailey revealed there was "work to do" for the fast bowler but there was hope he'd be able to play.
However, Australia coach Andrew McDonald revealed on Wednesday that situation isn't likely.
Pat Cummins pictured in action during the 2023 ODI World Cup. Darrian Traynor via Getty Images
"Pat Cummins hasn't been able to resume any type of bowling so he's heavily unlikely for the Champions Trophy," he told SEN.
Cummins' issues mean a new captain will be on the agenda with McDonald adding the plans are already in motion.
"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 back home. They'll be the two that we look at for that leadership post," he said.
"… they're the two obvious ones. Steve has done a great job here in the [first] Test match. He's done some good work in one-day international cricket across the journey as well. So it's between those two.
"But, as I said, Patty is hugely unlikely, which is a bit of a shame, and we've also got Josh Hazlewood, who is battling [to be fit] at the moment.
"So that medical information will land over the next couple of days and we'll be able to shore that up and let everyone know the direction."
While Smith and Head are the frontrunners, Mitchell Marsh also would likely have come into consideration after his work as skipper of the T20 team.
However, Marsh was ruled out of the tournament last week due to an ongoing back injury.
