SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 22: Mitchell Starc of Australia (L) celebrates with Steve Smith (C) and Pat Cummins (R) after taking the wicket of Umar Akmal of Pakistan during game four of the One Day International series between Australia and Pakistan at Sydney Cricket Ground on January 22, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Australian Test and ODI captain Pat Cummins is not set on life as the full-time captain in the white ball format.

Cummins has bucked the trend of bowlers not skippering international teams in recent years, having taken over after Tim Paine's exit from the Test side, and following Aaron Finch's retirement in the 50-over format.

Australia currently has not announced a new T20I captain, although that will need to be decided in the coming weeks, with a three-match T20I series to be played on a tour of South Africa alongside five ODIs as Australia ramp up preparations for the World Cup, to be played from October in India.

The Australians have played just six ODIs since the retirement of Aaron Finch - Cummins has captained twice, having rested for one of the matches against England, and not played in the series against India. Steve Smith filled in against India, while Josh Hazlewood captained against England.

Cummins, speaking to the media ahead of the fifth and final Ashes Test in England, said there was no guarantee he would captain every ODI game moving forward, seemingly suggesting even when he plays he may on occasion not take leadership duties.

"I know the selectors have been really clear that I'm a bowler first in that team," he said.

"So if we need to manage some of those games leading into the World Cup that takes precedence over the continuity of being captain every single game.

"We'll manage that, but there's a great team around us of players and staff so while I'm the captain and it's a bigger workload it's manageable."

Cummins was clear that he would lean on other experienced members of the team in both Test and ODI cricket when appointments were made, while chief selector George Bailey had similar comments.

Australia will likely move on from Cummins as the ODI captain after the World Cup, with the two white-ball teams to unite under one captain.

Who that is remains to be seen, but there is no guarantee the T20I captain in South Africa will take the role moving forward either.

Australia have plenty of strong options in the white-ball format, although it remains to be seen whether they look to the future, or appoint a more senior option with the World Cup next year in mind.