Travis Head has been endorsed as a captain of few words but more than capable of rising to lead Australia in Sri Lanka if Steve Smith’s elbow issues continue to plague him.
Smith, who was inserted as Test captain with Pat Cummins battling an ankle injury after the series win over India and staying in Australia for the birth of his second child, is seeing a specialist after hurting himself fielding for the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash.
The batting star was set to have his arrival at an Australian team camp at the ICC Academy in Dubai delayed while the injury was assessed.
Most of the Australian squad flew out to the United Arab Emirates across the weekend but Smith stayed behind with spinner Matthew Kuhnemann, who needs to prove his fitness after undergoing surgery on a broken thumb on his non-bowling hand.
Steve Smith will meet a specialist to manage an elbow injury
Smith was expected to make the trip, but having battled elbow issues before, there’s no guarantee of his availability for the two matches in Galle beginning at the end of January.
That could put Head in the frame and retired former opener David Warner, a long-time teammate of the South Australian, said there was no doubt he could do the job,
“I don’t think he’d say much. He’ll just make changes when he feels like it, he’ll be fine. He’s done the job for South Australia for a long time as well,” Warner said.
“He’s got a good head on his shoulders.”
Head, 31, was made captain of South Australia a decade ago, aged 21, a role he has subsequently relinquished given his consistent absences from state duties as a three-format player for Australia.
He’s become a cult hero after his celebrations for the ODI World Cup in 2023 win went viral. He also finished the recently completed series against India as the leading run-scorer across both teams after making two hundreds.
Travis Head with the World Cup trophy in 2023. Picture: Matthew Lewis-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)
Head would become Australia’s 48th Test captain should Smith not be available, which Warner said would be a “big blow”.
“Obviously, that’s a big blow if he potentially misses the Sri Lanka tour, but I think he’ll be able to get through it,” Warner said.
Australia could also need a new captain for the Champions Trophy ODI tournament in February, with Cummins no certainty to play and needing “specialist rehabilitation”.
“Pat Cummins is recovering from increased left ankle soreness which was aggravated by high workloads during the Test summer,” a Cricket Australia statement said.
“He will seek specialist rehabilitation advice this week and is likely to require a period of physical preparation and recovery.”
