Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are expected to appear in Australia’s 15-man provisional squad for February’s T20 World Cup, even though neither quick is fully fit right now. Head coach Andrew McDonald confirmed the pair – plus middle-order finisher Tim David – will be listed before the ICC’s 2 January deadline, with final calls made nearer the tournament.
“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.”
Key facts first
• Cummins has played one international since a lumbar stress injury in July.
• Hazlewood has not bowled a competitive over since early winter because of hamstring and Achilles issues.
• David tweaked a hamstring on Boxing Day for Hobart Hurricanes and awaits scan results.
• Australia’s first World Cup match is 11 February – still six weeks away.
Cummins managed the Adelaide Test against England off a shortened build-up and looked sharp enough, but medical staff were not prepared to risk him further in a long summer. Another back scan in late January should outline whether the skipper travels to India – or sits this one out.
Hazlewood, by contrast, bowled briskly during the T20 leg in India before Christmas. The right-armer has since been on a cautious rehab programme. “Josh is returning to bowl,” McDonald noted. “He looks as though he should be right in terms of possible timeframes.”
David’s hamstring twinge is on the opposite leg to the one that kept him out of two months’ IPL cricket. McDonald sounded optimistic. “Not sure whether it’s just pure muscle or tendon, and that’ll give us a timeframe,” he said. “I think the timeframe will be kind on TD as well. So he should be available no matter what that injury is.”
Australia sit in a helpful first-round group – Ireland and Zimbabwe come before Sri Lanka – so selectors could conceivably hold David back until 16 February if necessary. Even so, they would rather have their designated power-hitter running at full tilt for the Pakistan warm-up series in late January.
The squad remains only provisional. A burst of Big Bash form, or an untimely niggle, could still shuffle the pack before names are locked in. Players involved in those Pakistan T20Is will almost certainly miss the BBL finals, another factor the panel must juggle.
If all three doubtfuls pull through, Australia could field the same fast-bowling core that lifted the 2021 title, with David slotting into the role once held by Matthew Wade. Should rehab falter, standby seamers and batters are already on alert – a reminder that World Cup planning is as much about contingencies as best-case scenarios.
