Synopsis
Andrew McDonald, Australia's head coach, has revealed that captain Pat Cummins and fast bowler Josh Hazlewood are likely to miss the Champions Trophy due to injuries. McDonald also indicated that Steve Smith and Travis Head are in contention for the captaincy as the team prepares for the tournament starting February 19.Key Takeaways
- Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood may miss the Champions Trophy.
- Injuries are impacting Australia's squad depth.
- Steve Smith and Travis Head are potential captains.
- Squad submissions are due by February 12.
- Australia plays against England on February 22.
New Delhi, Feb 5 (NationPress) Head coach of Australia, Andrew McDonald, has indicated that both captain Pat Cummins and fast bowler Josh Hazlewood are unlikely to participate in the forthcoming Champions Trophy due to ongoing injury concerns.
Cummins is currently absent from the ongoing Test series in Sri Lanka because of the arrival of his second child, and he has been experiencing discomfort in his left ankle following his leadership in Australia’s 3-1 victory over India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at home.
Meanwhile, Hazlewood is facing challenges with a hip issue after previously recovering from side strain and calf injuries that kept him out of competitive cricket since the Brisbane Test against India in December.
McDonald also mentioned that Steve Smith and Travis Head are being considered for the captaincy role in the Champions Trophy, which kicks off on February 19. He stated, 'Pat Cummins has not been able to resume bowling, making his participation highly unlikely, so we will need to look for a captain.'
'Steve Smith and Travis Head are the primary candidates we've been discussing while finalizing the Champions Trophy team, alongside Pat back home. They are the two clear options. Steve has performed exceptionally well in the first Test match.'
'He has also shown great skill in one-day international cricket throughout his career. So, the leadership will likely come down to these two. However, as I mentioned, Patty is extremely unlikely, which is unfortunate, and we also have Josh Hazlewood, who is currently battling to regain fitness. We'll receive the latest medical updates in the next few days to clarify our direction,' McDonald shared with SEN Radio.
Australia has already faced a setback with all-rounder Mitchell Marsh being ruled out due to a back injury, and the potential absence of Cummins and Hazlewood indicates that the team may introduce three new players for the Champions Trophy.
Teams are required to submit their final squads of 15 to the ICC by February 12. Australia is placed in Group B of the Champions Trophy alongside Afghanistan, England, and South Africa.
Australia will commence their Champions Trophy journey against England on February 22 at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Preliminary squad for Australia: Pat Cummins (c), Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.
