Priyanka
Share
Hyderabad: Raising the curtain on big news regarding his team Australia, Coach Andrew McDonald commented in a press conference that ODI captain Pat Cummins may not play for ICC Men’s Champions Trophy due to his ankle injury. The Australian coach also mentioned that Test captain, Steven Smith, who is leading the Australian Test team in Sri Lanka due to the absence of Cummins, and aggressive opener, Travis Head are also potential candidates to lead the Australian cricket team in the next upcoming International Cricket Council’s event.
Jhye Richardson who was the second highest wicket taker in the Border Gavaskar trophy in 2024-25 tournament with a total of 25 wickets, missed Sri Lanka series because he and his fiancé were expecting their second child. At the same time, he had an ankle problem which he aggravated during a rather heavy Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. Some of the players in the Australia’s one-day squad that was not involved in the Test series are likely to join the team on Thursday in Sri Lanka. However, as seen on Wednesday morning, McDonald stated that Cummins perhaps will not join them.
“Pat Cummins hasn’t been able to resume any kind of bowling yet so he is highly unlikely, so that means yes, we would need a captain”, McDonald said on SEN. We have been having discussions with both, Steve Smith and Travis Head which we have been assembling that Champions Trophy team along with Pat in home condition. At that, they will be the two that we consider for that leadership post.
McDonald commended Smith’s leadership qualities and said that he has experience in playing Test and one-day cricket. "They're the two obvious ones. Steve has done a good work here in the (first) Test match. As for one-day international cricket in his journey, he has also contributed good things. So it's between those two."
“But, sincerely, Patty is greatly improbable, which is quite a pity, and we also have Josh Hazlewood, who is questionable at the moment. Therefore, medical information should arrive the next couple of days and we can support that information and let everybody know what the direction is,” McDonald said.
Middlesex, England: The other is an England powerhouse for which the availability of Josh Hazlewood is still in doubt. Hazlewood is still nursing his side and calf injuries that he incurred in the Melbourne Test against India and was rested in the second Test. Hazlewood has not fully recovered and he also missed the tour of Sri Lanka.
To our surprise both Cummins and Hazlewood are included in the initial list of Australia’s Champions Trophy squad for the year 2025 but unfortunately Mitchell Marsh will not be a part of it because of his back problem.
The Australian cricket team management is yet to decide on the replacement for Marsh. Speaking to the media, Australian limited-overs’ team coach Andrew McDonald said they are planning on including Beau Webster into the team since they are looking for a seam-bowling all rounder and despite the fact that he has no previous experience in playing an ODI match for his country.
Another worth mentioning the fact regarding the Australian team in champions trophy is that they have not managed to record a single victory in the ICC event after 2009.
