Australia could unveil a new men’s captain later this month, with Pat Cummins expected to miss part of the upcoming white-ball tour of South Africa.
Before announcing its 15-player World Cup squad, Australia will play three T20Is and five ODIs against the Proteas in August and September, with a touring party to be named in the coming days.
The majority of Australia’s multi-format players are expected to be rested for the 20-over contests against South Africa, including Cummins, who sustained a suspected fractured wrist during the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval.
As reported by The Age, Cummins suffered the injury while fielding on day one of the series finale — the 30-year-old wore strapping on his left wrist for the remainder of the Test match.
Cummins was the only bowler who played all six matches of this winter’s gruelling Test tour of England, during which Australia won the World Test Championship final and retained the coveted Ashes urn.
“I landed on my wrist on day one in the field going for a run-out. It’s pretty sore,” Cummins told reporters earlier this week.
“We’ll get it assessed over the next few days and work out if anything needs to happen.”
Cummins’ setback opens the door for Australia to pick a new men’s T20 captain, with the retired Aaron Finch stepping down from the role earlier this year.
Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell, who were both withdrawn from The Hundred competition by Cricket Australia, are leading candidates to take charge of the national T20 side, while a new ODI captain could also emerge if Cummins misses the 50-over matches against South Africa as well. The New South Welshman was named Australia’s official ODI captain last year, but Finch’s T20 replacement is yet to be announced.
Steve Smith led Australia during the three-match ODI series against India in March, while Josh Hazlewood and Alex Carey have also captained the national white-ball side over the past couple of years.
Meanwhile, Australia will also be sweating on the fitness of Mitchell Starc, who damaged his left shoulder during the fourth Ashes Test in Manchester.
The left-armer, later named Australia’s player of the series, managed shoulder pain throughout the Ashes finale at The Oval, taking eight wickets in what Cummins described as an “incredible effort”.
Starc, who earlier this year became the fastest cricketer to 200 ODI scalps, was the leading wicket-taker during Australia’s two previous World Cup campaigns in 2015 and 2019,
Australia must announce its World Cup squad before September 28, meaning next month’s ODI series against South Africa serves as crucial preparation for the 2015 champions.
The Australians will play a trio of ODIs against India in late September before their World Cup campaign commences on October 8.
Australia’s white-ball tour of South Africa
August 30 – First T20I, Durban
September 1 – Second T20I, Durban
September 3 – Third T20I, Durban
September 7 – First ODI, Bloemfontein
September 9 – Second ODI, Bloemfontein
September 12 – Third ODI, Potchefstroom
September 15 – Fourth ODI, Centurion
September 17 – Fifth ODI, Johannesburg
