Pat Cummins looks set to miss Australia’s ODI tour of South Africa due to his fractured wrist and instead return for the series against India ahead of the World Cup in October.
The World Cup could be Cummins’ last time captaining the ODI side, with the quick to determine after the tournament whether he can continue juggling the role with bowling duties and the Test captaincy.
Cummins injured his left wrist diving in the field on day one of the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval but played on before beginning his ongoing recovery.
“It hurt day one when I did it and it hurt a lot when I was batting, but I didn’t think it was too bad,” Cummins said.
“Then with each day it got a little bit sorer so I knew it was probably bone as opposed to a muscle (issue).”
Pat Cummins bowls as Ben Stokes watches on. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)
The injury had already ruled Cummins out of the first leg of Australia’s white-ball tour to South Africa, a three-match T20 international series that begins on August 31.
Cricket Australia hoped the right-arm quick could appear in the five-match ODI series that starts on September 7, naming him as captain in that squad.
But Cummins now appears likelier to return to play in India, where Australia’s ODI squad for South Africa will play three matches ahead of the World Cup from September 22.
“I’ll head over to South Africa at the back-end of that leg,” Cummins said.
“But we’re probably looking more at those one-dayers ahead of the World Cup.
“It shouldn’t be too bad. Another few weeks and it’ll be right.”
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Steve Smith, Josh Hazlewood and Alex Carey will all tour South Africa and have previously skippered the 50-over side, while newly-appointed T20 captain Mitch Marsh is another potential captain.
Any replacement captain could be auditioning for the role long-term, with the busy Cummins a chance to offload the position to focus on his bowling workload and red-ball leadership duties.
“I haven’t thought about it too much to be honest. We’ll play this World Cup and then assess it after that,” Cummins said.
“The good thing is we’ve got a few options (for South Africa).
“(Marsh) is probably the most obvious one if he’s doing the T20s as well.”
Marsh’s appointment to the T20I captaincy comes after a steady rise back into favour at national level.
(Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)
That rise continued with a famous century in the third Ashes Test at Headingley, his first red-ball appearance for Australia in almost four years.
Cummins endorsed him as Matthew Wade’s successor at the helm of the T20I side.
“He’s always been a huge member of the team, a real leader,” Cummins said.
“As a captain, that’s what you want, a guy that’s going out there, taking the game on, someone we can all get behind.
“Off the field, he’s just a great people-person. His energy’s infectious, he’s great to hang around with, always good fun.”
Michael Coote
Roar Rookie
Smith and Starc both ruled out of the SA tour, Labuschagne and Johnson added to the ODI squad, Turner to the T20 squad. Mitchell Marsh to captain both squads.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Double Headed leadership doesn't work
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Before the idiots attacked unfairly he was doing alright. After the lies and innuendo he suffered. I think that needs to be a factor. I've never seen where the boofheafs in the stands had infiltrated the Lords of society and proceeded to target any player in the history of the game like they did Carey. I reckon even our known hardheads would've been rattled in their younger days.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
He has to bat earlier to get 100s. Less not outs but the average would be the same. Bowling at the death is his schtick...and will produce wickets.
jammel
Roar Rookie
6 nos help. But yes an average of 50+ @ a strike rate of 89 is very good. A hundred is the next deliverable for CGreen! Economy rate of exactly 5 is good. More wickets would be helpful. No doubt the talent is there of course. 2023 WC is the time to make hay!!
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
We can blame them for as long as they don't give him a change. He has performed big time in ODI cricket.
jammel
Roar Rookie
I don't disagree with you Don. But time for Green to produce in the WC with wickets and runs. We can't keep on blaming the captaincy/management forever. Big hauls! Big scores! I am demanding it!
Ace
Roar Rookie
I like it as well and as Bowledover said .. maybe it's time for Inglis ..before he 'rots'
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Green is a very tight bowler...with the right fields. Green must always bowl his full 10. It is one of the great errors of the current leadership.
jammel
Roar Rookie
MMarsh as (C) would bowl green + himself easily as the 5th bowler. Tbh though I could see Starc + Hoff + Green going for plenty or close to plenty.....
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Oh yes. Almost all 6s are cuts, scoops and hooks. Uses the pace of the ball. He's not a big boy. He is just a better batsman who bats longer. And I'm a Carey fan.
Michael Coote
Roar Rookie
And yet at both FC and ODD inglis has a much higher ratio off 6s to 4s then Carey.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
It's not that complicated. There is a lot of thinking time in a game of cricket.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Inglis is not a "bigger hitter" than Carey. Inglis is a timer, glider, worker of the ball.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
We can carry 3 specialist quicks and 2 specialist spinners...IF...the captain realises that Cam Green is actually a specialist quick. He just happens to be a specialist batsman too. That should help us but the hierarchy sees it as something that's too hard to work out.
Michael Coote
Roar Rookie
Not sure we are going to have 3 frontline spinners in the squad, Zampa, Agar and young Tanveer Sangha are the 3 named in the extended 18-man squad, still to be trimmed to 15, Zampa is a definite, Agar is a probable, Sangha is a maybe at best. May come down to what happens in South Africa.
jammel
Roar Rookie
what's our XI if we play 3 spinners?! I know Maxi would be the likely third...but hopefully we don't get an "indore"-style wicket in the first match!!
jammel
Roar Rookie
Can't see Stoinis playing much IMHO!
Tempo
Roar Rookie
We did manage to beat India at Chennai earlier this year! Spin to win too, with Agar and Zampa sharing 6 wickets between them. But yes, will be a tough start to the tournament. Our first four games are India, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, with the India and Sri Lanka games at spin friendly venues. If we can come out of that start with at least two wins (preferably three) I think we're well placed to push for a semi-finals berth.
Michael Coote
Roar Rookie
Why does everyone want to get rid of Carey from the ODI side? He has the best record of any keeper since Gilchrist. Inglis might be a bigger hitter but is that what we need with the likes of Maxwell, Green, Marsh, Stoinis making up the middle order. The side is better balanced with Carey, it allows Maxwell, Green and Marsh to play with more freedom.