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'Not Steve Smith': Darren Berry's choice to replace Pat Cummins as captain for Sri Lanka tour
Sam Kosack • January 8th, 2025 9:36 pm
Former Australian Test cricketer Darren Berry believes Travis Head should captain the Australian side in their tour of Sri Lanka instead of Steve Smith, should Pat Cummins not play.
Cummins is expecting the birth of his second child and is unlikely to travel with the squad to Sri Lanka to captain the team, meaning a new captain must be chosen to fill his absence.
While Steve Smith seems the obvious choice having previously filled in for Cummins and currently serving as vice-captain, Berry believes that, due to past indiscretions, Travis Head is a better option.
“I would make Travis Head captain, not Steve Smith,” Berry told SEN Breakfast.
“I love Steve Smith and he's a great Australian batsman but after the South African episode… I just don’t think they should ever go back there, just let him play.
“That's always been my stance, it’s not a reactive call so for me it's Travis Head.”
Smith has previously been Australian captain, but stood down after the infamous ‘sandpapergate’ in 2018.
Berry additionally suggested some options for who should succeed Pat Cummins as captain once he steps down in the future, predicting the Aussie skipper may call time on his captaincy should Australia win the World Test Championship and Ashes later in the year.
“Nathan McSweeney has to get back in the side but he’s got big leadership in him,” Berry admitted.
“The way he handled himself at that omission I thought was sensational so I think he's a chance.
“There’s enough good people saying Cam Green could be one in the future and… whether or not he actually becomes good enough to play Test cricket but Will Sutherland is emerging as a leader as well and he might be our white ball captain in the future.”
The Australian squad for the Sri Lanka tour will be announced tomorrow before the first Test on January 29.
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