Pat Cummins expected to recover from fractured wrist to lead Australia at World Cup
- Planet Sport writer
- 7 August 2023
Australia captain Pat Cummins is expected to recover from a fractured left wrist ahead of the World Cup but Marnus Labuschagne has been omitted from the squad.
Marnus Labuschagne has been omitted from Australia's World Cup squad but Pat Cummins is expected to recover from a fractured wrist to lead the side at the global tournament.
Cummins will be sidelined for six weeks after injuring his non-bowling hand when diving in the outfield on the opening day of the last Ashes Test at the Oval earlier last month.
He was able to play a full part in the last four days in a 49-run defeat to England that saw a thrilling, seesaw series finish all-square at 2-2, with Australia retaining the urn as holders.
Cummins will miss three T20s in South Africa from 30 August to September 3, with Mitch Marsh stepping in as skipper, but is set to return for the five-match ODI leg of the tour from September 7-17.
Cummins, who has only captained two ODIs since succeeding Aaron Finch last October, will lead Australia on to World Cup hosts India for three warm-up matches between September 22-27.
Australia then begin their World Cup campaign against India in Chennai on October 8.
"Pat has an undisplaced fracture of his left radius which requires six weeks rehabilitation," said Australia's chair of selectors George Bailey.
"We expect him to join the squad during the South African ODI Series. We view a period of enforced rest for Pat as a positive ahead of this important World Cup campaign.
"There are still a number of games he could play before the World Cup which is more than enough for him to have a strong preparation."
Labuschagne has featured in Australia's last nine ODIs and 30 since making his debut in January 2020 but he has a modest career average of 31.37 with just one century.
That dips to just 22.30 in his last 14 ODI innings with a disappointing strike-rate of 69.87, which has led to Labuschagne being axed from the set-up.
The uncapped duo of leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha and all-rounder Aaron Hardie have been included in an 18-strong squad, which Australia will trim down to a provisional 15 in September before the World Cup.
Glenn Maxwell will miss the ODI series against South Africa due to paternity leave but is set to rejoin the Australia squad for the three-match series in India.
"This side has been extremely impressive for several years in limited overs cricket," added Bailey. "There is an enormous amount of skill and experience in the group which you need in a World Cup."
Australian ODI squad: P Cummins (captain), S Abbott, A Agar, A Carey, N Ellis, C Green, A Hardie, J Hazlewood, T Head, J Inglis, M Marsh, G Maxwell, T Sangha, S Smith, M Starc, M Stoinis, D Warner, A Zampa.
