Australia National Cricket Team have suffered a colossal blow ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 as skipper Pat Cummins is “heavily unlikely” to take part in the competition.

The development was confirmed by head Andrew McDonald, who revealed that Pat Cummins has not been able to bowl, and his ankle issue is likely to keep him out of the marquee 50-over competition.

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Australia face injury crisis ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025

The Aussies have already lost star all-rounder Mitchell Marsh for the Champions Trophy. Marsh has been ruled out of the competition due to a back injury that will also keep him out of the remainder of the domestic season, with the chance of him making a direct comeback in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

All-rounders Aaron Hardie and Marcus Stoinis, who are in Australia’s squad, are facing injury concerns. Meanwhile, Beau Webster is in contention to replace Mitchell Marsh in the squad despite having no ODI experience at the international level, confirmed the Aussie head coach.

Also, Josh Hazlewood is not fit and he is battling to make it on time for the 50-over competition. The premier pacer is dealing with a hip issue after recovering from the side and calf injuries that kept him out of the Tests against India and Sri Lanka.

Pat Cummins hasn’t been able to resume any type of bowling so he’s heavily unlikely – Andrew McDonald

On Wednesday, February 5, Andrew McDonald gave an update on Pat Cummins, saying that his ankle issue, which happened after a heavy workload in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, makes him highly unlikely for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

He further revealed that vice-captains Steve Smith and Travis Head are battling it out to take over the captaincy in the Champions Trophy.

“Pat Cummins hasn’t been able to resume any type of bowling so he’s heavily unlikely, so that would mean that we do need a captain,” McDonald told SEN.

“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 along with Pat back home. They’ll be the two that we look at for that leadership post.”

But, as I said, Patty is hugely unlikely, which is a bit of shame – Andrew McDonald

Andrew McDonald added that Pat Cummins missing the tournament would be a shame but expressed confidence in the leadership abilities of Steve Smith.

“They’re the two obvious ones. Steve has done a great job here in the [first] Test match. He’s done some good work in one-day international cricket across the journey as well. So it’s between those two,” he said.

“But, as I said, Patty is hugely unlikely, which is a bit of shame, and we’ve also got Josh Hazlewood, who is battling [to be fit] at the moment. So that medical information will land over the next couple of days and we’ll be able to shore that up and let everyone know the direction.”

The likes of Sean Abbott and Spencer Johnson are set to come into the ODI frame if both Cummins and Hazlewood are unable to recover for the marquee competition.