Skipper Pat Cummins will make a comeback into the ODI side after a span of 10 months while his partner, Mitchell Starc will miss out the first ODI against India. (Image: X)
The Australian skipper, Pat Cummins will return to the ODI side after 10 months as he looks to prepare himself for the highly anticipated 2023 ICC ODI World Cup
Australian pacer, Mitchell Starc will not be featuring in the first one-day international game against India tomorrow as per reports. Starc has been selected in the squad as they face their final leg of preparation before the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup takes place in India.
According to Cricket Australia’s report, Starc had been suffering ‘groin soreness’ after travelling to the United Kingdom for the World Test Championship Final and the Ashes tour.
The skipper, Pat Cummins had travelled to South Africa as part of the Australian squad but did not feature in a single white-ball game for the side. Mitchell Marsh had stepped in as the captain for both the T20 and ODI sides.
Cummins is hoping to make a return to the ODI series after a long span, while information on Starc remains unclear at the moment.
Starc has been a key player for Australia in the last two World Cups finishing as the leading wicket-taker in the previous two editions of the World Cup. The last ODI he featured in was in March 2023 when Australia toured India and played all three ODI’s picking up three wickets.
Cummins had also picked up an injury in the fifth Ashes Test where he injured his left wrist whilst fielding. He has not featured in the Australian ODI side since November, 2022 making it a span of 10 months not featuring in the side. He will be looking to get some much-needed game time after a long period of absence.
The duo continues to remain a key part of the Australian’s bowling attack and the management will hope to give them adequate game-time in order to prepare them before finalising their squads for the World Cup, for which the deadline for finalising their squads is September, 28.
The likes of Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Sean Abbot and Josh Hazlewood, will likely feature as the replacement in the 1st ODI against India in the three-match series.
Injuries have been concerning certain members of the Australian squad, with the likes of Travis Head set to miss out the first half of the ODI World Cup after fracturing his left hand in the fourth ODI against South Africa.