Steve Smith has been appointed the captain of the Australian cricket team for their upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. The move comes in the wake of Pat Cummins's paternity leave and persistent ankle issue. Cricket Australia confirmed Cummins's condition had been "managed through the summer."

Steve Smith has been named Australia's captain for their tour of Sri Lanka without regular skipper Pat Cummins, said Cricket Australia. Mitchell Starc leads the pace attack in an otherwise spin-heavy squad.

Steve Smith is leading Australia in the two-Test series against Sri Lanka as Pat Cummins takes paternity leave and attends to an ankle issue. The squad is without Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Marsh, focusing on the Champions Trophy.

Right-hand batter Steve Smith has been appointed as the interim skipper of the national side as team Australia announced a 16-player squad for their two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, which will begin on January 29.

Nathan McSweeney was recalled to Australia’s test squad on Thursday to tour Sri Lanka, less than three weeks after being dropped from the top order. Australia’s selectors announced their squad Thursday for the two-test tour,

Pat Cummins will miss the tour on paternity leave while also nursing an ankle issue that was managed throughout the summer.

Glenn Maxwell's hopes of reviving his test career may be over after the all-rounder missed out on selection in Australia's much-changed squad for the Sri Lanka tour. All-rounder Mitchell Marsh has also been overlooked for the squad,