Follow UsIn what comes as a body blow to Australia less than two weeks ahead of the Champions Trophy, skipper Pat Cummins and ace speedster Josh Hazlewood have both been officially ruled out of the mega event due to injury.
While Cummins misses out due to an ankle injury he picked up during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India, Hazlewood has been ruled out after picking up a hip issue.
"Unfortunately Pat, Josh and Mitch are managing some ongoing injuries and haven’t come up in time for the Champions Trophy,” cricket.com.au quoted chief selector George Bailey as saying.
"While disappointing, it does present a great opportunity for other players to perform for Australia in a world event."
The development means that one of Steve Smith or Travis Head will likely captain the Aussies in the Champions Trophy. Incidentally, the 2017 Champions Trophy was the last ICC event captained by Smith.
Additionally, Australia will now have to name as many as four replacement players. Cummins and Hazlewood have officially been ruled out but as has Mitchell Marsh. Marcus Stoinis, meanwhile, has retired from ODIs and has opted out of the Champions Trophy.
Cricket.com.au have confirmed that both Sean Abbott and Cooper Connolly, who are part of Australia’s Test squad for Sri Lanka, will stay back for the two ODIs. Meanwhile, the trio of Jake Fraser-McGurk, Spencer Johnson and Ben Dwarshuis will also join the other seniors in Sri Lanka in due time. Leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha is already in Sri Lanka and is expected to play a part in the two-match ODI series.
Pat Cummins © (ruled out), Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood (ruled out), Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh (ruled out), Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Marcus Stoinis (retired)
1st ODI - February 12, Colombo
2nd ODI - February 14, Colombo