Pat Cummins is highly unlikely to play in the Champions Trophy: Australia coach Andrew McDonald

(PTI Photo)

Australia’s inspirational Test and ODI skipper, Pat Cummins, might find himself supporting his team from the sidelines during the much-anticipated Champions Trophy 2025. Head coach Andrew McDonald has hinted that Cummins’ participation in the global event, set to kick off on February 19, is highly improbable.

The star all-rounder opted out of Australia’s ongoing tour of Sri Lanka to be by his wife’s side as they await the birth of their second child. His paternity leave is also doubling as a crucial recovery period for an ankle injury that worsened during the grueling Border-Gavaskar series against India. McDonald disclosed that Cummins has yet to resume bowling, casting serious doubts over his readiness for the marquee tournament.

With Cummins likely ruled out, Australia will need a new captain to lead them in the eight-team competition. McDonald pointed to seasoned campaigner Steve Smith and dynamic batter Travis Head as the frontrunners for the coveted leadership role.

Australia coach Andrew McDonald on Pat Cummins

“Pat Cummins hasn’t been able to resume any type of bowling so he’s heavily unlikely, so that would mean that we do need a captain,” McDonald told SEN.

“Steve Smith and Travis Head are the two that we’ve been having conversations with while we’ve been building out that Champions Trophy team along with Pat back home. They’ll be the two that we look at for that leadership post,” he added.

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McDonald lauded Steve Smith’s leadership prowess, emphasizing his vast experience across Test and ODI cricket. The seasoned batter, who is currently at the helm of Australia’s Test side for the ongoing two-match series against Sri Lanka in Galle, remains a strong candidate for the captaincy role.

Meanwhile, McDonald also voiced concerns over Josh Hazlewood’s fitness, as the ace pacer faces a tight race against time to recover ahead of the Champions Trophy.

“They’re the two obvious ones. Steve has done a great job here in the [first] Test match. He’s done some good work in one-day international cricket across the journey as well. So it’s between those two,” McDonald said.

“But, as I said, Patty is hugely unlikely, which is a bit of shame, and we’ve also got Josh Hazlewood, who is battling [to be fit] at the moment. So that medical information will land over the next couple of days and we’ll be able to shore that up and let everyone know the direction,” he added.