The transition is upon India: What will it lead to?

It's been coming for a while but now, it truly feels like the transition is upon us.

- Ashish Magotra

SYDNEY: Australia captain Pat Cummins hinted that he may skip the tour of Sri Lanka later this month to be present for the birth of his second child.

Australia are scheduled to play two Tests in Sri Lanka on January 29 and February 6, around the same time his wife—Becky—is due to give birth.

"It's pretty hard to plan exactly the day, but definitely (I might miss the Sri Lanka tour)," Cummins told The Daily Telegraph at the launch of the Pink Test, starting on Friday.

In Cummins' absence, Steve Smith or Travis Head will lead Australia. Cummins revealed that his mother's death last year had a profound impact on reshaping his priorities in life. The pacer had returned midway through the tour of India to be with his mother when she passed away.

"In some ways, it really makes you focus in on what I think is important," he said.

SYDNEY:

Over the last few years, we've seen a phasing out of the seniors. Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane and Ravichandran Ashwin. Rohit Sharma and Mohammed Shami might join the list soon and that will leave the 36-year-old Virat Kohli as the only surviving member of the initial squad that made winning away from India its big goal.