Australia's ICC Champions Trophy plans have been thrown into further disarray with news that skipper Pat Cummins and key seamer Josh Hazlewood are unlikely to travel to feature at the tournament.
The Aussies have already been dealt a blow with the loss of experienced all-rounder Mitch Marsh due to injury and the absence of Cummins and Hazlewood could further dent the side as they seek a third Champions Trophy title in the 50-over tournament that commences in Pakistan and Dubai on February 19.
Google News LinkFor all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Andrew McDonald discussed the latest injury blow on Wednesday and the Australian coach revealed he may need a new skipper for the tournament given the likely absence of current ODI captain Cummins.
"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 Australian radio station 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.
"They're the two obvious ones. Steve has done a great job here in the (first) Test match (against Sri Lanka). He's done some good work in one-day international cricket across the journey as well. So it's between those two.
"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."
Teams have until February 12 to submit their final squads of 15 to the ICC for the tournament and if Cummins and Hazlewood join Marsh on the sidelines then Australia will be on the lookout for three new players.
Australia great Ricky Ponting recently threw up uncapped all-rounder Mitch Owen for Marsh's vacant role when speaking on The ICC Review, while Sean Abbott and Spencer Johnson are other pace options which may be considered.
The Aussies are drawn in Group B at the Champions Trophy alongside Afghanistan, England and South Africa, ahead of a potential berth in the knockout stages of the eight-team tournament.
Australia preliminary squad: Pat Cummins (c), Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa (squad yet to be finalised)
TF
