Australia’s cricket team faces an uncertain future as captain Pat Cummins battles an ankle injury sustained during the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against India. Cummins will miss the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka due to paternity leave and is set to undergo scans in the coming days.
George Bailey, the chairman of Australia’s selection committee, stated, “We’ll have to wait and see once the scan results come back and assess his condition. There’s still some work to do, and we’ll get more clarity soon.”
Who Will Lead Australia Against Sri Lanka?
Cummins, who led Australia to victory in the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, has only played in two ODIs since then. The Aussies begin their Champions Trophy campaign against England on February 22, with a one-off ODI in Sri Lanka on February 13 following the Test series.
During the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Cummins bowled a total of 167 overs, the most by an Australian bowler in the series. He finished with 25 wickets at an impressive average of 21.36. In his absence, Steve Smith has been named as captain for the Sri Lanka tour, while Mitchell Marsh has been left out of the squad.
Hazlewood’s Potential Return to Strengthen Attack
Josh Hazlewood, who had to cut short his campaign in Brisbane due to a calf injury, is expected to return for the Champions Trophy. After missing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy due to injury, Hazlewood’s recovery has progressed well. Bailey mentioned, “Josh is putting in a lot of hard work, and his recovery is coming along nicely. It’s just a bit tight given the time he’s missed and how we may structure up the bowling attack.”
Impact of Cummins’ Absence on Australia
Cummins’ injury is a significant setback for Australia, particularly after his crucial role in leading the team to a 3-1 series win against India. The pacer will aim to make a timely return for the ICC event in February, hoping to bolster the Australian side once again.
