Champions Trophy: Uncertainty over Pat Cummins' fitness, ankle will be scanned

Doubts have arisen over the fitness of Australia captain Pat Cummins ahead of the Champions Trophy to be held next month and chief selector George Bailey refused to confirm his availability. Cummins has a swollen ankle and he was seen struggling with this problem throughout the season, but led his team to a 3-1 win in the Border Gavaskar Trophy series against India.

Bailey did not comment on whether Cummins will play in the Champions Trophy starting on February 19. He told 'nine.com.au', "Can't say anything right now. We have to wait and will know only after the scan report comes." Australia has announced the team for the two-Test series against Sri Lanka in which Steve Smith is the captain in place of Cummins.

Bailey said, 'Pat is on paternity leave. His ankle is also swollen, so he will be scanned. It will be known only after the report comes.' On the absence of fast bowler Josh Hazlewood in the Sri Lanka tour team, Bailey said, 'He is working very hard and his injury is also healing fast. He was not fit in time for the series against Sri Lanka, but it is expected that he will be fully fit by the Champions Trophy.'

This is the ninth edition of the Champions Trophy. The Australian team has been its winner twice. The Kangaroos won this tournament in 2006 and 2009. In 2006 it defeated West Indies in the final and New Zealand in 2009. This team has been placed in Group B along with South Africa, England, and Afghanistan. Australia's first match is against England in Lahore on February 22 while the team meets South Africa at the same ground on February 25. On 28 February, the Australian team will lock horns with Afghanistan in Lahore.

Australian selectors strengthened this department as much as they could, keeping the spin track in mind on the Sri Lanka tour. 21-year-old Cooper Conolly has been given a chance too. The 16-man squad contains seven specialist and part-time spin bowlers. The first Test between Australia and Sri Lanka is scheduled to start on January 29. The second Test will begin on February 6. After two Tests, both teams will also play a single ODI. This game will be played on February 13.

Australian team for two Tests against Sri Lanka: Steve Smith (captain), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Constas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.