Australia will need to find a new captain for the Champions Trophy 2025, as their skipper Pat Cummins has been ruled out of the tournament due to injury. This is a significant blow for the Aussies, as Cummins led them to victory in the ODI World Cup 2023 and guided them to the World Test Championship title. The team is already missing three key players—Josh Hazlewood, Marcus Stoinis, and Mitchell Marsh—and Cummins’ absence will be hard to fill. However, attention must now turn to the players who can step up and take on the responsibility of leading the team.
3 Australian players who could replace Pat Cummins as captain
Travis Head
Travis Head may be slightly ahead in the captaincy race. Head’s outstanding performances in 2024, including centuries in the World Test Championship and ODI World Cup finals, highlight his ability under pressure. He has captained Australia in one T20I, which they lost, and has led 27 List A matches with a 44.44% win rate.
Steve Smith
Steve Smith is also a contender to captain Australia replacing Pat Cummins. Smith is currently leading Australia in the Test series against Sri Lanka and has extensive experience in both ODI and Test captaincy. He has captained Australia in 59 ODIs, winning 31 and losing 25, with a win percentage of 52.54%. Smith and Travis Head are the primary candidates to replace Cummins for the Champions Trophy.
Mitchell Starc
Mitchell Starc could also be an option for the team, as he is one of the most experienced players in the squad. The pacer will also need to lead the bowling attack with Cummins and Hazlewood missing the tournament. He could take on this new responsibility during the Champions Trophy.
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