Australia Test captain Pat Cummins is likely to miss his side's tour of Sri Lanka at the end of this month but has no plans to give up the role full-time.

Cummins has overseen an impressive run as skipper since taking over from Tim Paine in 2021, most recently sealing a 3-1 series victory over India and a place in the ICC Test Championship final in June.

His side have also won the 2023 50-over World Cup, as well as currently holding the Ashes.

But, with a second child on the way, the 31-year-old says he "likely might struggle" to be involved in the two-Test series against Sri Lanka.

Cummins said: "I absolutely love what I do. That's the biggest driver in wanting to play Test cricket and work with this team and support staff.

"If I can keep doing it for a while, even better.

"We have two vice-captains in the team. We have had three debutants in this series. You're always balancing between the here and now and having a bit of an eye towards the future.

"They are conversations we always have, but I don't think there is any point in doing things for the sake of it. Those can play out over the next few years."

The hosts lost the first Test in their five-match series with India, a defeat that was seen by some as the beginning of the end for what has become a very familiar Australia team.

They bounced back impressively, though, with Cummins dismissing any suggestion that this team is at the end of its cycle.

He added: "When you start a series behind, a lot of things get questioned, fairly and unfairly.

"I think it shows the strength of the group to stay strong. We know we weren't at our best, but we can be better."

Steve Smith is likely to deputise for Cummins as captain for the Sri Lanka tour.

Smith was handed a two-year leadership ban as a result of the ball-tampering scandal in 2018 but has since stepped in on four occasions.