After tying the Ashes series 2-2 this summer, Australia managed to hold on to the prestigious urn.
A wrist injury sustained in the Ashes will cause Pat Cummins to take a six-week break, however, he is predicted to be back in action for Australia’s one-day international (ODI) World Cup campaign.
Cummins, aged 30, suffered a fracture in his wrist during the concluding Test at The Oval, where England prevailed by 49 runs.
“Pat has suffered an undisplaced fracture in his left radius,” reported George Bailey, the chairman of selectors.
“Our anticipation is for him to rejoin the team during the South African ODI series. We believe this enforced rest period for Pat could turn out to be beneficial ahead of our crucial World Cup campaign.
“He still has the opportunity to participate in a number of games prior to the World Cup, which should provide ample preparation time.”
In 2022, Cummins was appointed as Australia’s ODI captain and has since led the national team in two instances.
He continued to play despite injuring his wrist while fielding on the first day of the fifth Test, enduring the pain for the next four days.
Australia has a schedule packed with three T20Is and five ODIs against South Africa from August 30 to September 17, followed by three ODIs against India from September 22 to 27.
Australia begins their journey in the 2023 ODI World Cup, which starts on October 5 in India, by playing against the host nation in Chennai on October 8.
During Cummins’ absence, Mitchell Marsh will serve as Australia’s T20I captain for the series against South Africa.
Marnus Labuschagne, despite being a regular in the ODI squad, was conspicuously left out from the preliminary 18-player ODI squad. He had been part of the team that clinched a three-match series in India earlier in March.
The squad also includes uncapped leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha and all-rounder Aaron Hardie, which will be reduced to 15 closer to the World Cup’s commencement.
The squad’s top seam-bowling all-rounders include Marsh, Cameron Green, Marcus Stoinis, and Sean Abbott, while Ashton Agar, Sangha, and Adam Zampa bring their spin skills to the table.
Glenn Maxwell, another all-rounder, will be absent from the South Africa tour due to the expected birth of his first child.
In other news, Gabriel Weston investigates the often grim history of forensic science, and the potential for Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey, and Andrew Robertson to steer a combined UK national team to World Cup victory is examined.
