Pat Cummins remains on track for World Cup

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Melbourne. Australia captain Pat Cummins has indicated he will be fit for this year’s ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, declaring that his injured wrist is on the mend and he will miss the six-week tournament in India. First on the way back.

Cummins fractured his wrist while batting during the final Ashes Test against England at The Oval last month and it was initially reported that he would be out for six weeks before Australia’s first game in the World Cup against hosts India on 8 October. Will be thrown out till.

But Cummins has dispelled any fears that he will struggle to prove his fitness ahead of that tie, with the pacer aiming to travel to South Africa next month to train his teammates during the five-match series against the Proteas. He was able to link up with India and return to the team during the three-match series against India in late September.

“I will be going to South Africa at the end of that phase,” Cummins was quoted as saying by the ICC. “But we’re probably more focused on those ODIs (against India) before the World Cup. It shouldn’t be too bad. A few more weeks and it (his wrist) will be right.”

Australia is the only team to have announced its squad for this year’s World Cup so far, with the five-time champions having released a preliminary 18-player squad for the tournament earlier this month.

That squad will need to be reduced to 15 before the September 28 cut-off date, but Cummins has been named captain and is certain to lead Australia in the World Cup if his wrist injury heals in time.

But who will captain the team during the South Africa series is still unclear, with chief selector George Bailey recently hinting that the captaincy could be shared during the five matches in Cummins’ absence.

Steve Smith, Josh Hazlewood and Alex Carey all have experience of captaining Australia’s 50-over side before, while all-rounder Mitchell Marsh is also in the mix, having recently been appointed captain for the T20 portion of the South Africa tour Was.

Cummins voiced his support behind Marsh’s appointment and believes the in-form 31-year-old is a natural leader who could prosper in the role on a long-term basis if given more captaincy roles.

Cummins said, “The good thing is that we have a few options (for South Africa). But (Marsh) is probably the most obvious if he is also playing in T20s. He has always been a great member of the team, a real leader.” As a captain, that’s what you want, a guy who’s going out there, taking the game forward, someone who we can all get behind.”

“Off the field, he’s a great person. His energy is infectious, he’s great to hang out with, always good fun.”

Australia’s preliminary World Cup squad: Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Tanvir Sangha, Steve Smith Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa. (IANS)

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