Sydney, Dec 29 (.) Australia is set to include experienced pace duo Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood in their provisional squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup despite ongoing injury concerns, head coach Andrew McDonald has confirmed.
According to the International Cricket Council (ICC) website, Cummins, who returned for the third Ashes Test in Adelaide before being ruled out of the remainder of the series as a precaution, will undergo another scan on his back in around four weeks.
A final decision on his availability for the tournament, which begins on February 7, will be taken after the results of that assessment.
“Pat will have a scan, I think, in another four weeks, so that’ll give us the information then on where he’s at for the T20 World Cup,” McDonald said. “He’ll be named in the squad of 15, and then we’ll get that information as to where he’s at.”
Hazlewood, meanwhile, has missed the entire Ashes series due to a combination of hamstring and Achilles issues that have troubled the 34-year-old fast bowler. However, the pacer is making steady progress and is expected to return to bowling soon, raising hopes of his availability for the global tournament.
“Josh is returning to bowl. He looks as though he should be right in terms of possible timeframes,” McDonald said.
Australia is also monitoring the fitness of hard-hitting middle-order batter Tim David, who sustained a right hamstring injury while playing for the Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League.
The 29-year-old was earlier sidelined for two months this year with a similar issue, and scans have since confirmed a grade-two strain that has ruled him out for the remainder of the BBL.
“Not sure whether it’s just pure muscle or tendon, and that’ll give us a timeframe. I think the timeframe will be kind on TD (Tim David) as well. So he should be available no matter what that injury is,” said McDonald before a scan revealed a grade-two right hamstring strain that ruled David out for the remainder of the BBL, though he remains on track with his rehabilitation to be fit in time for the T20 World Cup.
Australia will begin its T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland on February 11. As part of their build-up to the tournament, they are scheduled to tour Pakistan for a three-match T20I series in January.
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