Cummins sent down 167 overs during the five Tests against India, the most by an Australian bowler, taking 25 wickets at 21.36.
Australia’s opening game of the Champions Trophy is against England on February 22, and they have a one-off ODI in Sri Lanka on February 13 after the Test series, which is part of their preparation.
Cummins captained Australia to the 2023 ODI World Cup title in India but has only played two games in the format since amid workload management.
Australia have used a variety of stand-in captains in that period. Steven Smith led the side last season against West Indies before Mitchell Marsh had the role in England, with Smith again deputising for the deciding game of that series. Earlier this summer against Pakistan, Josh Inglis led the team in the final ODI in Perth.
“Josh is working really hard and all the news of how he’s responding to his recovery from the calf injury is coming along really well,” Bailey said. “It’s just probably a little bit tight, given the amount of time that he would have missed and also with how we may structure up and the loads those quicks may be put under.”
“In Sean’s favour, given outside of the conditions that we expect to face, he’s just robust,” Bailey said. “We know he can put a heavy body of work in should he be required.”
