If Cummins is unavailable for the Champions Trophy, McDonald has a decision to make about his stand-in captain, with Steve Smith, who is currently fulfilling that role in Sri Lanka, and Travis Head th

Just a couple of weeks before the start of the ICC Champions Trophy, Australia have suffered a big blow as their skipper Pat Cummins is close to being ruled out of the competition. Australia coach Andrew McDonald dropped the bomb on Wednesday,

Australia captain Pat Cummins is highly unlikely to feature in the Champions Trophy due to his ongoing ankle issue, with Steve Smith and Travis Head emerging as the leading candidates to take over the captaincy.

Cummins has been unavailable for Australia’s ongoing two-match Test series against Sri Lanka due to an ankle injury and the birth of his second child. Smith has taken charge and led Australia to a dominant victory in the opening Test in Galle, winning by an innings and 242 runs.

Steve Smith could remain in the hot seat as Australian captain with Pat Cummins "hugely unlikely" to play in the Champions Trophy.

Australia's cricket team captain Pat Cummins has been dealt a massive blow with an ankle problem. Meanwhile, the injury has left his participation in the upcoming Champions Trophy highly doubtful. Coach Andrew McDonald revealed Steven Smith and Travis Head are in the running to replace the captaincy role.

Australia captain Pat Cummins is "hugely unlikely" to be fit for the Champions Trophy, leaving the world champions pondering their captaincy options.

MELBOURNE (Reuters) -Australia captain Pat Cummins is all but ruled out of the Champions Trophy while fellow paceman Josh Hazlewood is also a doubt for the ODI tournament, coach Andrew McDonald said on Wednesday.