Hazlewood and Cummins set to be in T20 World Cup squad for Australia with Tim David’s availability uncertain.
Hazlewood and Cummins to be included in Australia’s T20 World Cup squad despite their recent injuries.
In four weeks, Pat Cummins will undergo another back scan before it is decided whether or not he will participate in the event.
After suffering a grade two right hamstring strain on Boxing Day, David will miss the remainder of the BBL with the Hobart Hurricanes. However, he has a decent chance of recovering in time for the World Cup, which starts in early February.
Since sustaining a lumbar stress injury in his back in July, Cummins has only participated in one international game. After a brief preparation, he returned for the Adelaide Test against England and bowled brilliantly. However, Australia was unwilling to take any further chances, so he was promptly removed from the rest of the series.
A decision regarding his availability would be made closer to the event, according to coach Andrew McDonald, although Australia would name him in a 15-man team that is due by the ICC deadline on January 2. Since the last World Cup in the Caribbean, Cummins has not participated in a Twenty20 International.
“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 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.”
Despite missing the entire Ashes series owing to hamstring and Achilles ailments, Hazlewood, who bowled brilliantly in the T20Is against India earlier this season, is probably healthy.
“Josh is returning to bowl,” McDonald said. “He looks as though he should be right in terms of possible timeframes.”
David, a crucial part of Australia’s middle order, retired hurt in Hurricanes’ chase against Perth Scorchers. “I think the timeframe will be kind on TD as well. So he should be available no matter what that injury is,” McDonald said earlier on Monday.