Australian captain Pat Cummins and fast bowler Josh Hazlewood will be unavailable for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy due to injuries.
The situation is becoming increasingly challenging for the Australian team, as they have already lost Mitchell Marsh to injury and witnessed the unexpected retirement of Marcus Stoinis. With Cummins and Hazlewood now sidelined due to ankle and hip injuries, respectively, the team's pace bowling options have been significantly reduced, according to cricket.com.au.
This announcement regarding Cummins and Hazlewood coincides with Stoinis's retirement from One Day International cricket. Consequently, Australia will need to find four replacements, including at least two all-rounders, to restore the team's balance and experience.
The final squad is expected to be revealed following the conclusion of the second Test against Sri Lanka, which is currently taking place in Galle.
Marsh's withdrawal from the tournament is attributed to a back injury that has deteriorated over time, impacting his performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he missed the final Test. He is currently in rehabilitation.
Cummins has been dealing with an ankle injury sustained during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he bowled a total of 167 overs—the highest by any bowler—taking 25 wickets. Hazlewood is contending with a hip issue that arose after recovering from previous side and calf strains, which had already sidelined him for three matches in the BGT.
Both bowlers will require an extended rehabilitation period before they can be cleared to play again, casting doubt on their participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as well.
Australia's next commitment in international cricket following the Champions Trophy will be the ICC World Test Championship final against South Africa, scheduled to take place at Lord's in mid-June.
George Bailey, chairperson of the national selection panel, stated, as reported by cricket.com.au, "Unfortunately, Pat, Josh, and Mitch are dealing with ongoing injuries and have not recovered in time for the Champions Trophy."
"While this is disappointing, it offers a significant opportunity for other players to showcase their abilities for Australia in a global event."
Coach Andrew McDonald has identified Steve Smith and Travis Head as potential candidates for the captaincy.
Australia will kick off their campaign with a highly anticipated match against arch-rivals England in Lahore on February 22, followed by games against South Africa and Afghanistan in Rawalpindi on February 25 and 28, respectively.
The preliminary squad for the Champions Trophy, which is yet to be finalized, includes: Pat Cummins (c), Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, and Adam Zampa.
