Worry For Australia: Pat Cummins To Undergo Scan On Sore Ankle As Champions Trophy Looms
Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins faces uncertainty regarding his participation in the upcoming Champions Trophy due to a sore ankle. Cummins, who has been managing this injury throughout the Australian summer, will undergo scans in the coming days to assess its severity. Chairman of selectors George Bailey stated, "We'll have to wait and see when that scan comes back and see how it's tracking," indicating that further information will be available soon.
Cummins will miss the two-Test series against Sri Lanka as he is on paternity leave for the birth of his second child. Despite his injury, he led Australia to a 3-1 victory over India in the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he bowled 167 overs—the most by any Australian bowler in the series—taking 25 wickets at an average of 21.36.
In Cummins' absence, Steve Smith has been appointed captain for the Sri Lanka tour. Meanwhile, fast bowler Josh Hazlewood, recovering from a calf injury, is expected to be fit for the Champions Trophy, with Bailey expressing optimism about his progress. Australia's first match in the Champions Trophy is scheduled against England on February 22, following a one-off ODI against Sri Lanka on February 13. The team is keenly awaiting updates on Cummins' condition as they prepare for this prestigious tournament.