Australia’s captain and experienced pacer, Pat Cummins, is struggling with an ankle issue.
During the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India, Cummins developed an ankle problem but still played the entire series. However, concerns are now looming over his participation in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, with uncertainty clouding the Australian skipper’s availability.
Under Cummins’ leadership, Australia reclaimed the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at home, overturning an early defeat to clinch the five-match series 3-1.
Recently, reports suggested that Cummins would miss Australia’s upcoming tour of Sri Lanka, which was confirmed on Thursday with the squad announcement. The pacer will skip the series to be by his wife’s side for the birth of their second child. Steven Smith will once again take over the captaincy in his absence.
The ICC Champions Trophy is scheduled for February in Pakistan and Dubai, but it remains unclear whether Cummins will be fit to lead his side in the global event. His ankle will undergo a scan in the coming days, and the decision will depend on the medical report, as stated by Australia’s chief selector George Bailey.
“We’ll need to wait for the scan results and see what it reveals. There’s still some work to be done, and we’ll get more clarity on the injury soon,” Bailey said.
Cummins bowled 167 overs in the Test series against India, the highest workload among Australian bowlers. He also topped the wicket charts for his team with 25 wickets at an average of 21.36.
Australia’s Champions Trophy campaign begins on February 22 with a match against England. To prepare for the tournament, Australia will play a one-day international against Sri Lanka on February 13 following the Test series.
Under Cummins’ leadership, Australia won the 2023 ODI World Cup. However, to manage his workload, the pacer has been selective about playing in the 50-over format, featuring in just two ODIs since the World Cup. During his absence, the captaincy has been rotated among Steven Smith, Mitchell Marsh, and Josh Inglis.
Meanwhile, Josh Hazlewood, who was sidelined mid-series against India with a muscle injury, is also set to miss the Sri Lanka tour. However, Australia remains hopeful about Hazlewood’s availability for the Champions Trophy.
