Australia Test and ODI skipper Pat Cummins currently looks doubtful for the upcoming Champions Trophy, starting February 19. He played all the matches during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 while managing his ankle injury. Cummins has been rested for the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka for two reasons, i.e paternity leave and sore ankle. Steve Smith will lead the side during the series.
Chairperson of selectors, George Bailey announced the squad for the upcoming series. After the announcement, the former Australia captain spoke about the possible return of Cummins. The former refused to confirm the availability of the ODI World Cup 2023 winning captain. Bailey mentioned that the selection committee is waiting for the scan results.
“There’s a little bit of work to do, he’s got a little bit of a sore ankle as well so I think in the next week or so he’s got a scan coming there and we’ll get a bit more information around where that’s at.”
“Not really sure yet, we’ll have to wait and see where that scan comes back and where it’s tracking,” he said in a conversation with nine.com.au
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Pat Cummins isn’t the only bowler dealing with injuries
The two-time World Cup winner is currently nursing his sore ankle while Josh Hazlewood was ruled out of the last two Tests against India due to calf strain. On the other hand, Mitchell Starc also had a niggle before the Sydney Test against India but managed to pull through. Hazlewood has been rested for the series against Sri Lanka to focus on Champions Trophy 2025.
Bailey is confident that Hazlewood will be available for the Champions Trophy. “He’s working really hard, and all the news on how he’s responding to the calf injury is coming along really well,” Bailey said.
“It was just probably a little bit tight (for this squad) given the amount of time he would’ve missed and again looking how we potentially may structure up those loads those quicks may be put under. It just worked out that unfortunately for him he didn’t quite get there in time but really confident he should be fit and raring to go for the Champions Trophy.”
