Australia's ODI captaincy is uncertain after the sex controversy that rocked Australia. Mitchell Starc has been cleared from any wrongdoing but the scandal could be a distraction for the Ashes. It's therefore likely that he will be replaced by another player. If Starc resigns, there are two likely candidates for the test captaincy: Aaron Finch and Alex Carey.
Cummins has been rumored to be the next australian ODI captain
Ricky Ponting is a former captain for Australia's Test side, and ODI World Cup champion. He believes Cummins the right man to fill the position. The former captain was banned for two years after the Durban Test match. However, he has proven to be a strong candidate and is now considered the favourite to succeed him as Australia's next international captain. Meanwhile, Aaron Finch, the T20 captain, has announced his retirement from ODI cricket.
Paine resigns after sexting scandal
Tim Paine has resigned from his position as Australian cricket captain following a sexting scandal. Paine has since apologized to his co-worker for sending her inappropriate messages. Bonnie Paine was his wife for a year prior to the incident. They have two children. The scandal has rocked the Australian cricket community.
Aaron Finch could take his place if he's hurt.
Aaron Finch, Australia captain could miss at most one more T20I during his career. A knee injury has kept him out of action for a few weeks. The injury was first suffered by the captain while he was training for the West Indies T20I series. The injury was worsened during the fifth series game. Australia will be playing three T20Is South Africa in March. Finch will likely miss at least one of those games.
Smith's leadership capabilities as a Test Captain
Following a series loss to South Africa, Steve Smith's leadership qualities during the test game have come to light. Smith was an integral part of rebuilding Australia's teams after the series defeat. His team has played against India and Pakistan since then. Smith's leadership abilities as a test skipper in the wake of the Sandpaper Scandal have been challenged by several commentators, among them former Australian captain Michael Atherton.
Paine's mental illness break
Tim Paine, the Australian cricket captain, has announced that he will be taking a break from the game for his mental health. Cricket Australia conducted an investigation and cleared Paine of any wrongdoing. Paine was also cleared from any allegations of sexual misconduct regarding his past relationships with employees. It is unclear when Paine will be able to return to the field, despite his mental condition. He was supposed to play the Ashes test series against England, when the news broke.
Aaron Finch's captaincy remains top-notch
Aaron Finch is Australia's captain and has been on a very high level for the past few years. Finch has been a great batsman and has also excelled in limited-overs. Finch's injury history has made his career difficult in recent years. Michael Vaughan praised Aaron Finch's leadership and labelled him the most successful captain in the history.