During the next Champions Trophy 2025, Pat Cummins, Australia’s talismanic Test and ODI skipper, may have to watch from the sidelines. Cummins is very unlikely to participate in the international competition, which starts on February 19, according to head coach Andrew McDonald.
In order to spend more time with his wife, who is expecting their second child, Cummins has decided to postpone the current tour of Sri Lanka. Additionally, the famous all-rounder is using the paternity leave to recuperate from an ankle injury that worsened during the gruelling Border-Gavaskar series against India. Cummins hasn’t begun bowling yet, and McDonald hinted that he might not be able to get well in time for the Champions Trophy.
The Men in Yellow will have to pick a new skipper for the eight-team competition, the former Australian all-rounder added. McDonald claims that Travis Head and Steve Smith are the candidates to assume the esteemed position.
“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 stated to SEN.
As we’ve been assembling that Champions Trophy squad with Pat back home, we’ve been speaking with two people: Steve Smith and Travis Head. We will consider both of them for that leadership position,” he continued.
McDonald highlighted Smith’s Test and ODI cricket expertise while praising his leadership abilities. Currently heading the Australian squad in the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka in Galle is the talismanic batsman. McDonald also voiced his worries regarding Josh Hazlewood, who has to be healthy quickly in order to win the Champions Trophy.
“The two obvious ones are these two. Here in the [first] Test match, Steve has performed admirably. Along the way, he has also performed admirably in one-day international cricket. McDonald stated, “It’s between those two.”
However, as I mentioned earlier, Patty is quite improbable, which is unfortunate. Additionally, Josh Hazlewood is currently struggling [to be fit]. Therefore, we will be able to support that and tell everyone of the direction once the medical information arrives over the course of the next several days,” he continued.
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