Synopsis
In a recent announcement, Australia confirmed that captain Pat Cummins and fast bowler Josh Hazlewood will not be part of the squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy or the two ODIs against Sri Lanka due to ongoing injuries.Key Takeaways
- Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood ruled out due to injuries.
- Opportunity for other players in the Champions Trophy.
- Australia has multiple vacancies to fill in the squad.
- Concerns regarding their IPL participation.
- Upcoming ODIs against Sri Lanka are crucial for Australia.
New Delhi, Feb 6 (NationPress) Australia has made the official announcement that their captain Pat Cummins and fast bowler Josh Hazlewood will not participate in the squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy and the two preceding ODIs against Sri Lanka.
Cummins has been unable to recover from the soreness in his left ankle, an injury he sustained at the conclusion of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against India, where he successfully led Australia to a 3-1 victory. Meanwhile, Hazlewood has encountered a hip issue following his recovery from previous injuries, including a side strain and calf problem.
“It’s unfortunate that Pat, Josh, and Mitch are dealing with ongoing injuries and haven't healed in time for the Champions Trophy. While it's disappointing, this scenario provides a significant opportunity for other players to shine for Australia during a world event,” stated George Bailey, chair of the national selection panel.
Both Cummins and Hazlewood will need extensive rehabilitation before they can be considered fit to play. These substantial setbacks leave Australia with four vacancies to fill in their Champions Trophy lineup, following Mitchell Marsh's withdrawal due to a back injury and Marcus Stoinis' unexpected retirement from the format.
This situation also raises questions about Cummins and Hazlewood's participation in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season, which follows the Champions Trophy. Cummins previously led the Sunrisers Hyderabad to the IPL 2024 runners-up title, while Hazlewood was selected by Royal Challengers Bengaluru during last year's mega auction.
For Australia's two ODIs against Sri Lanka, scheduled at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on February 12 and 14, pace all-rounder Sean Abbott, leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha, and spin-bowling all-rounder Cooper Connolly will remain in the country.
Fast bowler Spencer Johnson, opener Jake Fraser-McGurk, and pacer Ben Dwarshuis will join the ODI squad. Teams have until February 12 to finalize their 15-player rosters for the tournament to be submitted to the ICC. Australia is placed in Group B of the 2025 Champions Trophy alongside Afghanistan, England, and South Africa.
