Australia’s participation in the upcoming Champions Trophy has been dealt a significant blow with skipper Pat Cummins "heavily unlikely" to feature in the tournament due to an ongoing ankle injury.
Cummins, who had opted out of the Test series in Sri Lanka for the birth of his second child, has been unable to resume bowling after his injury worsened following Australia’s Test series win over India last month.
"Pat Cummins hasn’t been able to resume any type of bowling so he’s heavily unlikely," McDonald told Australian radio station SEN. "So that would mean that we do need a captain. Steve Smith and Travis Head are the two that we've been having conversations with while we've been building out that Champions Trophy team."
In another setback, fast bowler Josh Hazlewood remains doubtful for the ODI tournament as he continues his recovery from side and calf injuries. Hazlewood missed three of the five Tests against India and was also absent from the Sri Lanka tour.
A final decision on his participation will be made in the coming days once further medical assessments are completed.
Australia has already suffered a major loss, with all-rounder Mitchell Marsh ruled out of the tournament due to a back injury.
The Champions Trophy, set to begin on February 19, will be co-hosted by Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.
Meanwhile, in Test cricket, Australia has released young batter Sam Konstas from the squad ahead of the second Test against Sri Lanka. The 19-year-old, who made a promising debut against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground with a brisk 60 on Boxing Day, was dropped for the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.
Travis Head moved up from the middle order to take his place, scoring 57 in Australia’s dominant innings and 242-run victory. A team spokesperson confirmed that Konstas would return home to play for New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield against Queensland in Brisbane.
"Konstas has been released from the Australian squad to play his first match at the Gabba and gain further experience at the venue," the spokesperson said on Wednesday.
The Gabba will host the second Ashes Test against England in December, and team management hopes the experience will benefit Konstas ahead of future assignments.
Head expects the youngster to rejoin the Test squad for the World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord’s in June.
"Most likely, I’ll go back in the middle order and Sam will open," Head told reporters in Galle.
Australia will look to complete a 2-0 series sweep against Sri Lanka when the second Test begins in Galle on Thursday.
