Pat Cummins is no certainty to play in the Champions Trophy with Australia’s captain to undergo scans on a sore ankle.
With Australia’s captain already sitting out the Test tour of Sri Lanka for the impending birth of his child, Cricket Australia confirmed on Thursday the quick was also managing ankle pain.
Officials are unsure about the severity of the injury, or whether he will be fit to return for Australia’s first match in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan on February 22.
“We’ll have to wait and see when that scan comes back and see how it’s tracking,” chief selector George Bailey said.
“There’s a little bit of work to do.
“We’ll probably get a bit more information around where that’s at.”
The absence of Cummins would be a major blow for Australia, who have had an eye on the Champions’ Trophy since lifting the 50-over World Cup in 2023.
Australia have not won the tournament since 2009, with India and Pakistan having triumphed in the two editions since then.
Roar editor Christy Doran made the trip to Seattle with VisitSeattle.org, diving into the city’s electric sports vibe, outdoor adventures, and renowned food scene. Click here for his latest adventure in the Emerald City.
Mitch Marsh is Australia’s vice-captain in the one-day format, having taken on the full-time role in Twenty20s.
Marsh was not picked in the Test squad for Sri Lanka on Thursday, but selectors have said he will be part of the Champions Trophy group to be named early next week.
Josh Hazlewood is also not going to Sri Lanka on his return from a calf injury, with the seamer also kept on ice for the 50-over tournament.
Australia have instead gone with Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland and Sean Abbott in the Test group.
Pat Cummins celebrates dismissing Rohit Sharma. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
There is the potential they could play only one quick at Galle, depending on the wicket, adding more workload to any of the trio who does play.
“Josh is working really hard and all the news of how he’s responding to his recovery from the calf injury is coming along really well,” Bailey said.
“It’s just probably a little bit tight, given the amount of time that he would have missed and also with how we may structure up and the loads those quicks may be put under.”
Meanwhile, Australia hope to have Cameron Green back available for the World Test Championship final, while preparing for him to return as a batter only.
Green posted a video of himself running on social media on Wednesday, almost three months after undergoing season-ending surgery on his back.
Chief selector George Bailey confirmed on Thursday he was “very hopeful” Green would be available to play at Lord’s against South Africa.
The West Australian is due to undergo further post-operation scans next month and is expected to be back batting in May.
Cameron Green. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
He will have to wait longer to bowl, potentially after Australia’s three-Test tour of West Indies in June and July.
Green’s return adds further questions to Mitch Marsh’s chances of extending his Test career, after he was left out of Australia’s 16-man squad for Sri Lanka.
While Beau Webster retained his spot after an impressive debut in Sydney, Marsh will be left to wonder when his next Test will come at age 33.
But Bailey suggested there was still potential for Marsh to return to the team in next summer’s Ashes, after his impressive return to the team against England in 2023.
“I don’t necessarily see it as the end of the road for him,” Bailey said.
“I think Mitch at his best and with a longer-term view of potentially what the Ashes may look like and what England may throw at us there.
“He’s got a skill set that suits there, not taking away from the fact that at some stage clearly we’re going to have the return of Cameron Green as well into the team.
“But unlike some, I’m probably not as glass half empty around where that leaves Mitch.”
Webster’s selection comes after he hit 57 and an unbeaten 39 in Sydney, but his ability to shoulder a heavy workload with the ball could also be crucial in Asia.
The Tasmanian also bowled off spin for the majority of his career before turning to medium pace during COVID, but Bailey said it was unlikely his tweakers would be called upon in Sri Lanka.
Instead, Travis Head can provide support to Australia’s spinners Matt Kuhnemann and Todd Murphy, who could both feature as frontline spinners in the XI alongside Nathan Lyon.
“(Webster’s spin) probably wasn’t something that came up as a factor in selection,” Bailey said.
“I think we’ve got plenty of spin options there.
“It’s a nice fourth or fifth bow for Beau to have up his sleeve, but I don’t necessarily think that we’ll be heading down that path.”
© AAP