Pat Cummins, who is undergoing a six-week layoff in recovery from a left wrist injury picked up at the fag end of the Ashes 2023 in the UK, will be travelling to South Africa and India for Australia’s World Cup prep ODIs and the ultimate showpiece event from September to November.
The player had carried doubts over his participation in the preceding 50-overs games prior to the quadrennial event following playing the entire fifth Test at The Oval with a wrist issue after diving and hurting his hand on Day 1.
However, the selectors have deemed the skipper fit enough to play some of the One-Day matches versus the Proteas and the entire marquee Indian trip. To ensure he goes through adequate rehab and recovery time for the injury, the selectors have rested Cummins from the T20I leg in the rainbow nation.
The five-match ODI series against South Africa kicks off on September 7, while the Indian trip, encompassing three ODIs, two official warm-up fixtures and the World Cup, begins on September 22 in what will be a quick turnaround from matches. The last thing the Aussies want is for Cummins to rush his comeback and break down in the middle of the World Cup campaign.
“Cummins has an undisplaced fracture of his left radius which requires six weeks rehabilitation,”
said Australia’s selection chief George Bailey.
“We view a period of enforced rest for Pat as a positive ahead of this important World Cup campaign.”
“There are still a number of games he could play before the World Cup which is more than enough for him to have a strong preparation,”
he added.
Bailey confirmed Australia’s preliminary 18-man squad for the assignments in South Africa and India, which will be trimmed to 15 for the World Cup by September 28 – the last date for formal announcement.
The squad features all the established big names David Warner, Steve Smith, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and captain Cummins himself, with Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Marcus Stoinis, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Marsh and Sean Abbott providing allround depth.
Adam Zampa plays the lead tweaker, while Alex Carey is the main wicketkeeper-batter. Tanveer Sangha and Josh Inglis play backup to the Zampa-Carey duo, as do Aaron Hardie and Nathan Ellis in the allrounders and fast-bowling department.
