Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have been ruled out officially of the Champions Trophy. The team must now make a series of changes to their squad, as they are still working under the time constraint of getting the finalised squad in before February 12. The original 15-man squad was announced on January 13, but with this development, the squad must undergo at least four changes.
Injuries And Retirement
Not only the unavailability of Cummins and Hazlewood, Mitchell Marsh is ruled out due to a back problem. On January 31, Marsh has been confirmed not to play the tournament. A further rift from this squad came when Marcus Stoinis announced on Thursday that he would retire from ODI cricket, thus withdrawing himself from playing in the Champions Trophy for which he was selected initially as well.
Also Read: Harshit Rana Breaks Silence On Concussion Substitute Controversy, Says ‘I Believe That People Will…’
New Faces In The Team
Australia has summoned a batch of young talent for the two ODIs versus Sri Lanka, which would be part preparation for the Champions Trophy. Quick bowler Sean Abbott, Spencer Johnson, and Ben Dwarshuis have been included, along with leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha, spin-bowling allrounder Cooper Connolly, and batter Jake Fraser-McGurk.
Potential Replacements
The new additions could play a role in the Champions Trophy, with two of the three fast bowlers potentially earning spots in the squad. Fraser-McGurk seems to be a direct replacement for Marsh, as he’s expected to bat at No. 3 but has not been bowling much in ODIs recently. Connolly is likely to replace Stoinis, and only one seam-bowling allrounder remains in the team now – Aaron Hardie. Of note, Test allrounder Beau Webster did not feature in the list of newcomers for the ODI series against Sri Lanka.
Also Read: IND Vs ENG: Shreyas Iyer Reveals Shocking Truth About His Selection In 1st ODI
Australia’s Captaincy Puzzle
The Australians had to deal with a more complicated situation. After the suspension was lifted on them, the decision of who was going to be the team captain for the forthcoming ODIs in Sri Lanka and the Champions Trophy was still due. The choices were limited only to Steven Smith and Travis Head.
