This could be a severe blow to the Australians just ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy scheduled in a matter of weeks, as captain Pat Cummins could be ruled out of the same. Head coach Andrew McDonald revealed on Wednesday that Cummins hadn’t yet gotten back to bowling at the volume needed for full recovery, ruling his participation all but impossible.
In his absence, Australia will have to appoint a new leader, with Steve Smith and Travis Head emerging as the frontrunners for the captaincy. Cummins’ potential absence is a significant blow for Australia, given his immense influence across formats. As a leader, his tactical acumen has been instrumental in shaping Australia’s recent successes, and his role as a strike bowler in both Tests and ODIs has been irreplaceable. Losing him ahead of a major tournament not only leaves Australia searching for a new captain but also creates a void in their pace attack.
“Pat Cummins hasn’t been able to resume any type of bowling, so he’s heavily unlikely to play, which means we do need a captain,” Andrew McDonald told SEN. “Steve Smith and Travis Head are the two we’ve been considering while finalizing the Champions Trophy squad. They’ll be the ones we look at for leadership.”
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Smith has prior captaincy experience across formats, having led Australia in Test cricket and ODIs, while Head has also shown leadership qualities. Either could be tasked with guiding the side through the tournament in Cummins’ absence.
Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are set to be ruled out of the #ChampionsTrophy as they battle back from injuries 🤕
(quotes via @WhateleySEN) pic.twitter.com/72j5bHFLVF
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) February 5, 2025
This may not be good news for Australia either, as Josh Hazlewood’s availability is also under a cloud. His fitness status is still not confirmed but can be expected to come in through the next couple of days.
“Pat is hugely unlikely, which is a real shame, and we’ve also got Josh Hazlewood battling fitness issues at the moment,” Andrew McDonald further added. “The medical team will provide updates soon, and we’ll finalize our plans accordingly.”
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With key players out, Australia will have to regroup and re-evaluate their strategy for the Champions Trophy as they use their experience and depth to stay competitive in this high-stakes tournament.
