'I’ll be surprised if it wasn’t Pat Cummins' - Ricky Ponting reveals his pick for Australia's next ODI captain

While the Australian T20I team is gearing up to take on India in a three-match T20I series, the ODI team is still to announce a leader for the side, following the retirement of Aaron Finch from the 50-over format. Although there are several names in the reckoning, former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting stated he'll be really surprised if Pat Cummins doesn't take over the reins from Finch.

Ponting, who commanded a team of world beaters during his time at the helm of the Australian team, suggested Australia's red ball skipper, Pat Cummins for the ODI captaincy role. He admitted that the pacer is not a frequent starter in the shorter format of the game due to his commitment to the Test side, but believes him to be the right choice for the role.

"I think it’ll be Pat Cummins, to be honest. I know he doesn’t play all the ODIs for obvious reasons, because his workload in Test cricket has been, like all the fast bowlers, very high in the last few years. I know they are very conscious of making sure that they’ve got Cummins, (Josh) Hazlewood, and (Mitchell) Starc 100 percent fit and healthy for the big Test series to come around. But look, I’ll be surprised if it wasn’t Pat Cummins," Ponting told host Sanjana Ganesan on The ICC Review.

Ponting stated that David Warner should be in consideration for the leadership role

It is worth noting that Steve Smith was banned from leading Australia for two years, while his deputy Warner was handed a lifelong leadership ban following the 2018 ball-tampering scandal in South Africa. The former Aussie skipper also touched upon the subject of handing the controversial figure of David Warner the leadership role, since Steve Smith has been deputizing for Cummins in red ball cricket. 

"He is now the Test vice-captain, which means, obviously, that if Pat Cummins ever misses a Test, then Steve Smith is going to be the captain of Australia again in Test match cricket. So, if that’s the case, and all being even and reasonably fair, then I think it would be OK, as far as I’m concerned, for David Warner to have his name (in the ring). Not saying that they have to make him captain, but he should be able to be in the conversation," the two-time World Cup-winning captain said.