No Pat Cummins for Champions Trophy? Australia captain suffers ankle injury, set to undergo scans

In what can be a blow to Australia cricket team, captain Pat Cummins has injured his ankle just before ICC Champions Trophy. The all-rounder has been an all-format player for Australia and recently led Australia to a 3-1 triumph in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The pacer will not be playing in the Test series in Sri Lanka owing to the birth of his second child. However, his absence may be extended now due to this injury.

Speaking to media persons, Australia chief selector George Bailey revealed that Cummins had a sore ankle and he had some work to do. The former Australian player said that Pat was set to undergo scans next week to get further insights into the extent of the injury. Meanwhile, Steve Smith has been named the captain for the Sri Lanka series, with Travis Head serving as his deputy.

“There’s a little bit of work to do, he’s (Cummins) got a little bit of a sore ankle as well so I think in the next week or so he’s got a scan coming there and we’ll get a bit more information around where that’s at,” Bailey said.

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Australia have lost more than just one pacer in the course of the gruelling IND vs AUS Test series. Josh Hazlewood, another all format bowler, was ruled out midway through the series and is now not a part of SL vs AUS series either as a part of precautionary measure. Australia are pinning their hopes on the pacer to race against time to be fit for CT 2025. Mitchell Starc also sustained a niggle in the 5th Test that saw him experience discomfort with his back while bowling in Sydney. Should Cummins be out, it should come as a big blow to Australia, both in terms of captaincy and bowling. Cummins had led Australia to triumph in ODI World Cup 2023.