Pat Cummins will be named in Australia’s T20 World Cup squad despite ongoing uncertainty around whether he will be cleared of injury in time to lead the pace attack.
Fellow quick Josh Hazlewood is progressing well to feature in the global showpiece, to be played in India and Sri Lanka in February and March, while power-hitter Tim David is also expected to be fit.
But doubt remains over Cummins, who returned from a back complaint in the third Ashes Test at Adelaide Oval but is sitting out the rest of the five-Test series as a precaution.
The 32-year-old faces further scans on his back late next month and can be replaced in the World Cup squad – due to be named this week – if required.
Hazlewood has missed the entire Ashes series because of hamstring and achilles setbacks, while David sustained a hamstring injury in BBL action on Boxing Day.
Coach Andrew McDonald is confident Hazlewood and David will be fit for the World Cup, with Australia opening their tournament against Ireland in Colombo on February 11.
Pat Cummins (right) will be named in Australia’s T20 World Cup squad despite ongoing uncertainty around whether he will be cleared of injury in time to lead the pace attack
The 32-year-old faces further scans on his back late next month and can be replaced in the World Cup squad – due to be named this week – if required
But he faces a nervous wait on Cummins, who featured alongside Hazlewood in Australia’s only previous T20 World Cup triumph in 2021.
‘Josh is returning to bowl, so he looks as though he should be right in terms of time frames, or possible time frames,’ McDonald said on Monday.
‘Pat will have a scan in another four weeks, so that’ll give us the information then on where he’s at for the World Cup.
‘He’ll be named in the squad of 15, and then we’ll get that information as to where he’s at.
‘But Hoff (Hazlewood) looks good. I think the time frame will be kind on TD (David) as well.
‘So he should be available no matter what that injury is, and then we’ll wait on Patty.’
David was ruled out of the rest of the BBL season on Monday.
Scans confirmed the Hobart Hurricanes blaster had suffered a grade-two hamstring tear on Boxing Day.
Andrew McDonald confirmed that Cummins (pictured) will have another scan in four weeks
But medical staff believe his planned rehabilitation will leave him available for selection for the World Cup squad, in a significant boost for Australia.
Australia have been drawn in Group B for the World Cup alongside Ireland, Oman, Zimbabwe and co-hosts Sri Lanka.
Elsewhere, CA also confirmed on Monday that Nathan Lyon’s hamstring surgery had been a success after he tore it during the third Test in Adelaide.
There is still no return-to-play date, with the spinner’s next national duties not until a two-Test series against Bangladesh in Mackay and Darwin in August.
