Injury Woes Plague Australian Cricket Team Ahead of Champions Trophy

Australia’s preparation for the upcoming Champions Trophy has been thrown into disarray, with coach Andrew McDonald indicating that captain Pat Cummins is “hugely unlikely” to participate due to an ankle injury, Al Jazeera reports.

Fellow fast bowler Josh Hazlewood is also facing doubts as he battles persistent calf and side strains.

Cummins, who recently skipped the Test tour of Sri Lanka to be present for the birth of his second child, is now contending with an ankle problem that threatens his involvement in the eight-nation tournament, scheduled to begin on February 19 in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.

Adding to the leadership vacuum, vice-captain Mitchell Marsh, who typically captains the Twenty20 side, has already been ruled out with a back injury. This leaves Cricket Australia searching for a new captain to lead the one-day squad.

Steve Smith, who recently stepped in to captain the Test side in Sri Lanka, is a potential candidate to take on the captaincy duties for the Champions Trophy.

Hazlewood’s injury concerns further compound Australia’s problems, having been limited to just two Test appearances in the recent series against India due to calf and side strains.