Australia has suffered a major setback just weeks before the ICC Champions Trophy, with captain Pat Cummins highly unlikely to participate. Coach Andrew McDonald confirmed on Wednesday that Cummins hasn’t resumed bowling and is unlikely to recover in time.
In Cummins’ absence, either Travis Head or Steve Smith will captain Australia. Cummins’ absence is a significant blow, impacting both leadership and pace bowling.
“Pat Cummins hasn’t been able to resume any type of bowling, making his participation highly unlikely. This means we need a new captain,” McDonald told SEN. “Steve Smith and Travis Head are the two we’ve discussed, and they’ll be considered for the leadership role.”
“They’re the obvious choices. Steve has captained well in the recent Test match and has ODI experience. So it’s between those two.”
Australia may also be without another senior pacer, Josh Hazlewood, for the Champions Trophy. While not yet ruled out, an update on his availability is expected in a few days.
“Patty is highly unlikely to play, which is a shame, and Josh Hazlewood is also struggling with fitness. We’ll have more medical information in the next couple of days and will clarify the situation then.”
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