Bad news has emerged for the Australian team ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Some of Australia’s experienced players are expected to miss the tournament. Pat Cummins, a match-winner and key player, is ruled out due to injury. He suffered an ankle injury during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. At present, the captain has not been seen bowling, so it is unlikely that he will be fit for the tournament.
Apart from Cummins, Josh Hazlewood also ruled out of the tournament. In the absence of these experienced players, the Australian team may have to bear the brunt of it. Cummins is not only a great bowler but also an effective leader.
Also, read about Pat Cummins’s Injury
Who Will Lead Australia? Steve Smith or Travis Head?
It is speculated that in his absence, Steve Smith or Travis Head can be given the command of the team. Now the question arises which of the two is the best option?
Steve Smith’s Captaincy Record in ODIs
| Matches | Won | Lost | No Result | Win Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 58 | 30 | 25 | 3 | 51.72% |
Steve Smith’s captaincy statistics percentage
Steve Smith has captained 58 ODIs and won 30 matches. Three matches ended in no result. After losing 25 matches, his win percentage is 51.72. Smith has played his role as captain in Test matches properly. He has not lived up to his expectations in ODI captaincy yet, but he has experience in it.
Travis Head captaincy statistics:
On the other hand, Travis Head has taken over the captaincy in T20 matches. He does not have experience of ODI captaincy. In such a situation, he does not have experience of ODI at the national level. Which can be a big reason for not getting the captaincy role for the Champions Trophy. But he is a batsman who can bat well even under pressure. He bats aggressively without fear.
If we conclude about both players, Travis Head can help the team win by aggressive batting, but he lacks experience in ODI captaincy, which reduces his chances of being selected as captain. On the other hand, with his experience, Smith can take over the captaincy.
