In a massive setback for the Australian team, captain Pat Cummins is 'heavily unlikely' to board the flight to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which starts on February 19. The news of Cummins came after all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has already been ruled out.
The 31-year-old, who recently led Australia to a 4-1 Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) win over Australia last month, skipped the Test series against Sri Lanka due to the birth of his second child. He has also been nursing an ankle issue that flared up due to heavy workload in the BGT.
“Pat Cummins hasn't been able to resume any type of bowling so he's heavily unlikely, so that would mean that we do need a captain,” Australia coach Andrew McDonald told SEN. "Steve Smith and Travis Head are the two that we've been having conversations with while we've been building out that Champions Trophy team along with Pat back home. They'll be the two that we look at for that leadership post.
“But, as I said, Patty is hugely unlikely, which is a bit of shame,” he added. Not just Pat Cummins, Australia have more misery to deal with as pacer Josh Hazlewood is also racing against time to be fit.
It is understood that Hazlewood is dealing with a hip issue after recovering from the side and calf injuries that saw him sit out in three of the five Tests against India and the entire Test tour of Sri Lanka.
The absence of Pat Cummins and Mitchell Marsh will open the door for Sean Abbott and Spencer Johnson, both off whom were not included for tour of Sri Lanka. Post the two-match Test series, Australia will play one-off ODI before flying to Pakistan for ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Meanwhile, Cricket Australia is yet to name a replacement for Mitchell Marsh. Seam-bowling all-rounder Beau Webster, who is yet to play an ODI, is a part of the Sri Lankan tour. Notably, Aaron Hardie and Marcus Stoinis, who are in the squad already, also have injury concerns.
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