Australian skipper Pat Cummins (Ankle injury) and seamer Josh Hazlewood (Hip injury) have been ruled out of the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. This news is a huge shock for the Aussies, who are chasing their first win in the Champions Trophy since the 2009 edition.
Australia’s Champions Trophy campaign has hit a roadblock after this massive news, as their aspirations of getting their hands at the trophy has taken a massive blow
George Bailey, the chairman of the selection panel of Cricket Australia, broke this massive news of the pace bowling duo’s unavailability.
“Unfortunately Pat, Josh and Mitch are managing some ongoing injuries and haven’t come up in time for the Champions Trophy. While disappointing, it does present a great opportunity for other players to perform for Australia in a world event.”
The Quartet of Mitchell Marsh, Pat Cummins, Marcus Stoinis, and Josh Hazlewood Ruled Out
Besides Hazlewood and Cummins, the Australian contingent is blown away by the unavailability of all-rounders Mitchell Marsh and Marcus Stoinis. While Mitchell Marsh is suffering from a back issue, Marcus Stoinis made a shocking retirement announcement from ODI cricket yesterday.
Now Australia has to make as many as 4 changes in their previously announced squad for Champions Trophy. With Pat Cummins unavailable now, either Steven Smith or Travis Head could don the captaincy hat as assured by the team’s coach Andrew McDonald.
As far as the replacements are concerned, Jhye Richardson, Ben Dwarshuis, Cooper Connolly, Tanveer Sangha, etc., are a few names who could get recognition in the Champions Trophy squad. All these players have been added to the ODI squad for Sri Lanka and might get a nod in the upcoming ICC marquee event as well.
We will await the updated squad and it would be interesting to see who will be the 4 replacements.
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