Australia is the current world champion in the ODI format after their 6th World Cup title came with their win in the CWC 2023 under subcontinent conditions in India. Preparing for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Australia is on the back foot from the very first day.
Ever since David Warner, the veteran opening batter, retired from all forms of Australian cricket, Travis Head, the batter with supreme form, has lacked an opening partner. Though the Aussies have tried several players at the top, likely batting all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, who was seen as a major asset at the top when he played in the World Cup 2023, is also to miss the upcoming Champions Trophy.
Now, with Marsh ruled out and Cameron Green likely rested from 6 months of play, skipper Pat Cummins’ unavailability has increased the complications for the Aussies. Ever since the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he bowled long sessions, especially in the third test, Cummins’ availability has been under scrutiny.
Australian Head Coach Andrew McDonald has also shown doubt over the availability of Aussie speedster Josh Hazlewood, who is battling to make himself available.
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Cummins is expecting his second child
Pat Cummins decided to rest for the Sri Lanka test series as he opted to prioritize his family over the game for some time. As Pat Cummins and his wife are expecting their second child, Cummins is also struggling with a niggle in his ankle.
If Pat Cummins misses out, likely experienced campaigner Steve Smith or their most in-form batter, Travis Head, who has done a considerably great job in limited-overs cricket, are being seen as the likely players in the leadership role if the veteran pacer misses out.
“Pat Cummins hasn’t been able to resume any type of bowling, so he’s heavily unlikely, so that would mean that we do need a captain,” McDonald told SEN. “Steve Smith and Travis Head are the two that we’ve been having conversations with while we’ve been building out that Champions Trophy team along with Pat back home. They’ll be the two that we look at for that leadership post.
“But, as I said, Patty is hugely unlikely, which is a bit of a shame, and we’ve also got Josh Hazlewood, who is battling [to be fit] at the moment. So that medical information will land over the next couple of days, and we’ll be able to shore that up and let everyone know the direction.”
How does Cummins’s possible exclusion from the ICC Champions Trophy affect Aussies?
Likely, Mitchell Marsh, who misses out on the Champions Trophy, might be replaced by Test side debutant Beau Webster.
Meanwhile, players like Aaron Hardie and Marcus Stoinis are already in the side picked as middle-order all-rounders. However, none of them can pose as opening batters.
Also, Australian Tanveer Sangha has been appointed to replace Josh Hazlewood and has flown to Sri Lanka with some chances of being considered for the ICC Champions Trophy as well.
However, Pat Cummins’ unavailability will not only mark the absence of a lead paceman, as players like Sean Abbott and Spencer Johnson might replace him in the role, and Abbott has emerged as a batter with significant contributions down the order just like skipper Cummins.
However, undoubtedly one of the finest cricketing heads, the Aussies will miss the services of their great captain, who went on to claim the World Cup, WTC, and reclaimed the Ashes as well as the BGT for Australia. This will be a major blow to the team’s morale, while Cummins will also not be able to pull a showdown during the on-field proceedings of the game and could only be an audience at crucial junctures of the game.
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