Former Australia wicketkeeper Ian Healy doesn’t want to see Pat Cummins carrying the burden of captaincy for too long.

While Cummins was appointed Test skipper after Tim Paine stepped down from the position in November 2021, he was handed ODI captaincy after Aaron Finch's retirement last year.

Cummins’ leadership credentials have been put to test in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy as Australia are 2-0 down in the four-match Test series.

"I don’t want him carrying the burden of so much captaincy for too long. I want him to finish as just a bowler. The captaincy creates a burnout and four to five years is a long time as a captain," said Healy while speaking on SENQ’s "Pat and Heals.

"He’s done a few years (as Test captain) already, now he’s adding short-form captaincy to his thought processes at a time when he’s dealing with some sort of family illness back home."

"So yeah, I would like to see him finish his career as a tearaway fast bowler and someone else with the captaincy burden."

According to Ian Healy, Travis Head is capable of being the next Australia Test captain.

"I think Travis Head is quite capable. He’s led South Australia since he was a 21-year-old, he’s quite capable and has got a lot of experience. He’s the main one that stands out to me."

"The likes of Glenn Maxwell might be able to do parts of it in the short form, but as far as longer-term captaincy prospects other than Travis Head, I can’t think of any."

Meanwhile, Pat Cummins will miss the third Test against India in Indore, starting March 1 as he has decided to stay back in Sydney with his ailing mother.

Cummins had flown back home to attend his ill mother after Australia’s six-wicket defeat in the second Test in Delhi. He was supposed to return before the Indore Test but now he has decided to stay back with his family in this difficult time.

In his absence, vice-captain Steve Smith will lead the Australian side in the penultimate Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.