Australia's regular captain Pat Cummins will miss the Sri Lanka tour to remain at home for the birth of his second child and will also manage his ankle injury. Meanwhile, Steve Smith has been named the captain for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka.

Steve Smith has been named Australia's captain for their tour of Sri Lanka in the absence of regular skipper Pat Cummins, said Cricket Australia. Mitchell Starc leads the pace attack in an otherwise spin heavy squad.

Ricky Ponting feels that Glenn Maxwell being included in the Australia squad for the Sri Lanka tour will be a backward step for the side. Maxwell has been pushing to make it into the squad for the tour of the island nation in recent times.

Steve Smith returns as the captain as Australia announced their squad for the upcoming two match Test series against Sri Lanka which begins on January 29