Australia are confident of having their skipper and pace spearhead, Pat Cummins, fit in time for the highly anticipated Ashes series opener in Perth on November 21, despite a back injury that has sidelined him from upcoming white-ball matches.&nbsp;The 32-year-old quick has been diagnosed with a lumbar bone stress fracture following Australia’s Tests in England and the West Indies. The injury isn’t as serious as the stress fractures he had earlier in his career. However, it’s still intense enough that the selectors have decided he won’t play in the limited-overs matches against New Zealand and India.&nbsp;Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/donald-bradman-1946-baggy-green-costs-a-fortune-here-is-why-it-matters-1756462110355"> Donald Bradman’s 1946 baggy green costs a fortune – here’s why it matters</a>&nbsp;There are still 80 days before the first ball of the men’s Test summer and Cricket Australia is optimistic that Cummins will be ready. Chief selector George Bailey said in a statement read from Cricket Australia, “We have a full expectation that Pat will be right to go come that first Test,” adding his Ashes preparation will not change significantly given he was already in a planned “de-load” period.<h2>Cummins has missed just two Tests since 2021</h2>Cummins, who has missed just two Tests since taking over as captain in 2021, must now balance rest with gradually building his bowling workload for a grueling five-Test series. Ideally, he would have tuned up with white-ball cricket, but selectors remain open to him playing Sheffield Shield matches for New South Wales in October or November if needed.&nbsp;“He’s certainly one … that has entered summers at different stages without a great amount of match balls at different times.“ If it got to the stage where they were taken off the table, I still think that we’d be comfortable with Pat’s experience and skill level.” Bailey added.&nbsp;Bailey admitted the senior seam quartet of Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood, and Boland have been remarkably durable: “Then when they have managed to get through all five (Tests), it’s a hats off to them and it’s a hats off to the physical performance team to get them through it.”<h2>Cummins' record in the &nbsp;Ashes series</h2>The Australian skipper has been one of the most reliable Ashes performers, taking 91 wickets at 24.10 in 19 Tests since 2017. His best Ashes figures came at the SCG in 2018, with match figures of 8/119.

 Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins has suffered an injury, raising concerns about his potential return. With the Ashes just around the corner, selectors are keeping a close eye on Cummins’ recovery. Here's everything we know so far about his fitness and potential return.

Australia are confident of having their skipper and pace spearhead, Pat Cummins, fit in time for the highly anticipated Ashes series opener in Perth on November 21, despite a back injury that has sidelined him from upcoming white-ball matches. The 32-year-old quick has been diagnosed with a lumbar bone stress fracture following Australia’s Tests in England and the West Indies. The injury isn’t as serious as the stress fractures he had earlier in his career. However, it’s still intense enough that the selectors have decided he won’t play in the limited-overs matches against New Zealand and India. Also read | Donald Bradman’s 1946 baggy green costs a fortune – here’s why it matters There are still 80 days before the first ball of the men’s Test summer and Cricket Australia is optimistic that Cummins will be ready. Chief selector George Bailey said in a statement read from Cricket Australia, “We have a full expectation that Pat will be right to go come that first Test,” adding his Ashes preparation will not change significantly given he was already in a planned “de-load” period. Cummins has missed just two Tests since 2021 Cummins, who has missed just two Tests since taking over as captain in 2021, must now balance rest with gradually building his bowling workload for a grueling five-Test series. Ideally, he would have tuned up with white-ball cricket, but selectors remain open to him playing Sheffield Shield matches for New South Wales in October or November if needed. “He’s certainly one … that has entered summers at different stages without a great amount of match balls at different times.“ If it got to the stage where they were taken off the table, I still think that we’d be comfortable with Pat’s experience and skill level.” Bailey added. Bailey admitted the senior seam quartet of Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood, and Boland have been remarkably durable: “Then when they have managed to get through all five (Tests), it’s a hats off to them and it’s a hats off to the physical performance team to get them through it.” Cummins' record in the Ashes series The Australian skipper has been one of the most reliable Ashes performers, taking 91 wickets at 24.10 in 19 Tests since 2017. His best Ashes figures came at the SCG in 2018, with match figures of 8/119.

Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins has suffered an injury, raising concerns about his potential return. With the Ashes just around the corner, selectors are keeping a close eye on Cummins’ recovery. Here's everything we know so far about his fitness and potential return.

Is Pat Cummins fit for the Ashes? Injury concerns rise for Aussie skipper

From Dale Steyn to Pat Cummins, here's a look at the top five players with most days as no.1 Test bowler.

From Dale Steyn to Pat Cummins, here's a look at the top five players with most days as no.1 Test bowler.

From Dale Steyn to Pat Cummins, 5 players with most days as no.1 Test bowler, check who tops list

Australia captain Pat Cummins was full of praise for fellow speedster Mitchell Starc after he became the latest bowler to strike 400 wickets for the nation. Playing at Sabina Park in Jamaica, Starc scalped six wickets to narrow West Indies to the second-lowest total in Test cricket history as the hosts were dismissed for 27. After the win, Cummins highlighted Starc’s importance in the side, stating “he can tear a game open by himself” as the Aussies kickstarted the latest World Test Championship (WTC) cycle on a 3-0 series win.<h2>Cummins full of praise for Starc</h2>"He can tear a game open by himself really in the matter of a couple of overs. It feels like he can do it in any format, any time,” Cummins said after Australia’s 3-0 series win over West Indies. &nbsp;&nbsp;"I think a lot of the chat leading into this week is how resilient you need to be and professional to make it 100 Tests," Cummins said of Starc.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/indian-bowlers-achieve-rare-test-record-at-lords-first-time-since-1955-1752498536717">In series dominated by batters, Indian bowlers achieve RARE Test record first time since 1955</a>&nbsp;Starc, 35, has been one of Australia’s most reliable assets in the last decade, having helped the team win two ODI World Cups, one T20 World Cup and the 2023 World Test Championship (WTC). However, despite his age, he has been ageing like a fine wine having played a pivotal role in Australia’s dominance in the three-match Test series.Extraordinary Starc leads the way&nbsp;The Aussie great was at fluent best on Monday, scalping the fastest five-wicket haul in Test cricket. It took only 15 deliveries for Starc to hit the bull’s eye, reminding his dominant display. Scott Boland also joined hands with three wickets of his own to add more assault on the Caribbean side. Having been bowled out for 27, West Indies registered the second-lowest total in Test history.

Playing at Sabina Park in Jamaica, Mitchell Starc scalped six wickets to narrow West Indies to the second-lowest total in Test cricket history as the hosts were dismissed for 27.

Australia captain Pat Cummins was full of praise for fellow speedster Mitchell Starc after he became the latest bowler to strike 400 wickets for the nation. Playing at Sabina Park in Jamaica, Starc scalped six wickets to narrow West Indies to the second-lowest total in Test cricket history as the hosts were dismissed for 27. After the win, Cummins highlighted Starc’s importance in the side, stating “he can tear a game open by himself” as the Aussies kickstarted the latest World Test Championship (WTC) cycle on a 3-0 series win. Cummins full of praise for Starc "He can tear a game open by himself really in the matter of a couple of overs. It feels like he can do it in any format, any time,” Cummins said after Australia’s 3-0 series win over West Indies. "I think a lot of the chat leading into this week is how resilient you need to be and professional to make it 100 Tests," Cummins said of Starc. ALSO READ | In series dominated by batters, Indian bowlers achieve RARE Test record first time since 1955 Starc, 35, has been one of Australia’s most reliable assets in the last decade, having helped the team win two ODI World Cups, one T20 World Cup and the 2023 World Test Championship (WTC). However, despite his age, he has been ageing like a fine wine having played a pivotal role in Australia’s dominance in the three-match Test series. Extraordinary Starc leads the way The Aussie great was at fluent best on Monday, scalping the fastest five-wicket haul in Test cricket. It took only 15 deliveries for Starc to hit the bull’s eye, reminding his dominant display. Scott Boland also joined hands with three wickets of his own to add more assault on the Caribbean side. Having been bowled out for 27, West Indies registered the second-lowest total in Test history.

Playing at Sabina Park in Jamaica, Mitchell Starc scalped six wickets to narrow West Indies to the second-lowest total in Test cricket history as the hosts were dismissed for 27.

'He can tear a game open by himself': Pat Cummins full of praise for Mitchell Starc after record-breaking spell

Nathan Lyon could be denied a shot at history as Australian captain Pat Cummins feels puzzled picking the playing XI for the third and final Test against West Indies, a Day/Night affair, at Sabina Park starting Saturday (Jul 12). Sitting at the seventh spot on the list of bowlers with the most Test wickets (562), one short of equaling Glenn McGrath’s record as the second-most for an Australian behind late Shane Warne, Lyon could fail to make it to the side for the first time in 12 years, Cummins hinted on match eve. Should the selectors drop the off-spinner for a pacer, he will have to wait for another five months to enter the record book.&nbsp;A combination of pink ball and playing conditions at Sabina Park could force Australia to do something they have not done in over a decade - bench their best spinner regardless of the pitch. Although they have already won the series, the Australian Team wishes to tick off their first away Day/Night Test win and whitewash West Indies.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/no-white-ball-for-cricket-for-pat-cummins-before-october-as-australian-captain-prepares-for-home-ashes-2025-england-1752316522166">No white-ball for cricket for Pat Cummins before October as Australian captain prepares for Ashes</a> &nbsp;Meanwhile, barring three Tests that Lyon missed during the last away Ashes (in 2023) due to a calf injury, he hasn’t been absent from a red-ball game since one against England in 2013. Asked if Australia would punt on benching Lyon for a pacer in the pink-ball tie, Cummins said, "I think everything's an option. We honestly haven't settled on it. We all left yesterday and thought we'd just sleep on it, come back and have a look and make up our mind today." &nbsp;In a series dominated by the quicks, Lyon has picked up nine wickets in two Tests at 18.33, including six in the second Test in Grenada, but Cummins said he needs to consider the conditions before picking the final XI.&nbsp; &nbsp;"[There are] a few more unknowns…I think mainly pink ball and trying to get our heads around exactly what it's going to do," Cummins said before the training session. "That last session [under lights] might be a little bit longer than Adelaide." &nbsp;The third Test at Sabina Park will begin at 00:00 hrs on Sunday (Jul 13) IST.&nbsp;

A combination of pink ball and playing conditions at Sabina Park could force Australia to do something they have not done in over a decade - bench their best spinner regardless of the pitch.

Nathan Lyon could be denied a shot at history as Australian captain Pat Cummins feels puzzled picking the playing XI for the third and final Test against West Indies, a Day/Night affair, at Sabina Park starting Saturday (Jul 12). Sitting at the seventh spot on the list of bowlers with the most Test wickets (562), one short of equaling Glenn McGrath’s record as the second-most for an Australian behind late Shane Warne, Lyon could fail to make it to the side for the first time in 12 years, Cummins hinted on match eve. Should the selectors drop the off-spinner for a pacer, he will have to wait for another five months to enter the record book. A combination of pink ball and playing conditions at Sabina Park could force Australia to do something they have not done in over a decade - bench their best spinner regardless of the pitch. Although they have already won the series, the Australian Team wishes to tick off their first away Day/Night Test win and whitewash West Indies. Also read | No white-ball for cricket for Pat Cummins before October as Australian captain prepares for Ashes Meanwhile, barring three Tests that Lyon missed during the last away Ashes (in 2023) due to a calf injury, he hasn’t been absent from a red-ball game since one against England in 2013. Asked if Australia would punt on benching Lyon for a pacer in the pink-ball tie, Cummins said, "I think everything's an option. We honestly haven't settled on it. We all left yesterday and thought we'd just sleep on it, come back and have a look and make up our mind today." In a series dominated by the quicks, Lyon has picked up nine wickets in two Tests at 18.33, including six in the second Test in Grenada, but Cummins said he needs to consider the conditions before picking the final XI. "[There are] a few more unknowns…I think mainly pink ball and trying to get our heads around exactly what it's going to do," Cummins said before the training session. "That last session [under lights] might be a little bit longer than Adelaide." The third Test at Sabina Park will begin at 00:00 hrs on Sunday (Jul 13) IST.

A combination of pink ball and playing conditions at Sabina Park could force Australia to do something they have not done in over a decade - bench their best spinner regardless of the pitch.

Day/Night Test: Australia could deny Nathan Lyon a shot at history in pink-ball tie, know how

Australia Test and ODI captain Pat Cummins will miss the home ODIs and T20Is against South Africa starting next month to prepare for the Ashes later this year. Currently in the Caribbean for the Test series against West Indies, and having won the first two matches, with the third and final one starting Saturday (Jul 12) in Jamaica, Cummins had already been rested for the five T20Is that follow, alongside seamer Mitchell Starc and all-rounder Travis Head. Josh Hazlewood will also return home after the Test series, despite being picked in the T20I squad, with backup quick Xavier Bartlett named as his replacement.&nbsp;While Hazlewood will play the home series against the Proteas, including three T20Is and as many ODIs, played across Darwin, Cairns and Mackay, Cummins will return to the training base ahead of the marquee home summer. The fast bowler, however, eyes return during a short tour to New Zealand in early October and a handful of white-ball matches against India later. Not only this, but Cummins also plans to feature in the Sheffield Shield before the English Team reaches Aussie shores for the away Ashes.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-ind-vs-eng-joe-root-suggests-this-new-rule-amid-ball-change-controversy-in-lord-s-test-1752298319890">IND vs ENG: Joe Root suggests THIS new rule amid ball change controversy in Lord's Test</a> &nbsp;"I'll have a good training block for the next couple of months, six weeks or so," Cummins said to reporters at Sabina Park ahead of the Pink Ball Test against West Indies.&nbsp; &nbsp;"Probably not bowling, but lots of gym work. [My] body feels pretty good, but there's always little bits and pieces you're always trying to get right and then build up for the summer. So it'll probably look like white-ball [cricket]…we've got some [matches against] New Zealand, India, potentially a Shield game and then into the home summer,” he continued.<h3>More action for uncertain top three &nbsp;</h3>Despite Australia beating the West Indies in the first two matches, not all of their players are in form, especially the top three, including Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green. While veteran Khawaja is unlikely to play any cricket until Shield season begins ahead of the home summer, Konstas and Green have plenty to play for. &nbsp;Konstas and Green have two innings each in the final Test to impress the selectors and push their case for the home Ashes. &nbsp;"There's a lot of Shield cricket to come and some Aussie A stuff as well," Cummins said on the significance of the final Test in the West Indies. "I think [if] you do well at Test level, any time it's going to kind of make your case more compelling. I think there's a bit of a connection to the summer, but it feels a long way away at the moment."

Cummins had already been rested for the five T20Is against West Indies, alongside seamer Mitchell Starc and all-rounder Travis Head.

Australia Test and ODI captain Pat Cummins will miss the home ODIs and T20Is against South Africa starting next month to prepare for the Ashes later this year. Currently in the Caribbean for the Test series against West Indies, and having won the first two matches, with the third and final one starting Saturday (Jul 12) in Jamaica, Cummins had already been rested for the five T20Is that follow, alongside seamer Mitchell Starc and all-rounder Travis Head. Josh Hazlewood will also return home after the Test series, despite being picked in the T20I squad, with backup quick Xavier Bartlett named as his replacement. While Hazlewood will play the home series against the Proteas, including three T20Is and as many ODIs, played across Darwin, Cairns and Mackay, Cummins will return to the training base ahead of the marquee home summer. The fast bowler, however, eyes return during a short tour to New Zealand in early October and a handful of white-ball matches against India later. Not only this, but Cummins also plans to feature in the Sheffield Shield before the English Team reaches Aussie shores for the away Ashes. Also read | IND vs ENG: Joe Root suggests THIS new rule amid ball change controversy in Lord's Test "I'll have a good training block for the next couple of months, six weeks or so," Cummins said to reporters at Sabina Park ahead of the Pink Ball Test against West Indies. "Probably not bowling, but lots of gym work. [My] body feels pretty good, but there's always little bits and pieces you're always trying to get right and then build up for the summer. So it'll probably look like white-ball [cricket]…we've got some [matches against] New Zealand, India, potentially a Shield game and then into the home summer,” he continued. More action for uncertain top three Despite Australia beating the West Indies in the first two matches, not all of their players are in form, especially the top three, including Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green. While veteran Khawaja is unlikely to play any cricket until Shield season begins ahead of the home summer, Konstas and Green have plenty to play for. Konstas and Green have two innings each in the final Test to impress the selectors and push their case for the home Ashes. "There's a lot of Shield cricket to come and some Aussie A stuff as well," Cummins said on the significance of the final Test in the West Indies. "I think [if] you do well at Test level, any time it's going to kind of make your case more compelling. I think there's a bit of a connection to the summer, but it feels a long way away at the moment."

Cummins had already been rested for the five T20Is against West Indies, alongside seamer Mitchell Starc and all-rounder Travis Head.

No white-ball for cricket for Pat Cummins before October as Australian captain prepares for Ashes

Nitish Kumar Reddy came out of the syllabus for England on day one at Lord’s. While they prepared hard for the returning world no. 1 quick Jasprit Bumrah and Edgbaston Test hero for India, Akash Deep, gifting Reddy two wickets in his first over was never part of the plan. The medium pacer first removed Ben Duckett off a sluggish delivery before sending back under fire Zak Crawley off a peach. His twin strikes set the tone for the day, as England deployed an old-school Test approach to share honours on day one. Reddy, however, credited his IPL team (SRH) captain Pat Cummins for improvement in his bowling.&nbsp;Reddy debuted in Tests on the tour Down Under, primarily playing as a batting all-rounder. Less on pace and seam movement, the then-India captain Rohit Sharma didn’t use him enough on bouncy Aussie tracks.&nbsp; &nbsp;In IPL 2025, Reddy vowed to work on improving his bowling; he decided to approach his team skipper (Cummins), who helped him work on his pace and seam position, which paid dividends a few months later in London.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-eng-ben-stokes-injury-worries-england-as-hosts-prepare-for-run-heavy-day-2-at-lords-india-ollie-pope-joe-root-1752210053250">IND vs ENG: Ben Stokes’ injury worries England as hosts prepare for run-heavy day 2 at Lord’s</a> &nbsp;However, considering that the new skipper Shubman Gill introduced Reddy inside the first 15 overs, making him bowl 14 throughout the day – the same as Mohammed Siraj, it reflects the confidence he has in his bowling. On day one, unlike the frontline quicks, Reddy was slower through the air and even got more movement. The medium seamer also extracted the most average seam, more than Bumrah, and also attacked the stumps more often, troubling the English.&nbsp; &nbsp;"After the Australia tour, I felt like I have to improve my bowling and my consistency," Reddy said. "That's what I looked [at]. And yeah, Pat is my captain [in the IPL], and he's been brilliant in Australia, and I have asked him [for] some tips and he has been telling me how things would have been done in Australia, how can I go through in Australia. And that's a great experience for me, sharing with Pat Cummins. &nbsp;“Coming to this tour, I would say, working with Morne Morkel has been great for me. He's working with me for a couple of weeks, and we are seeing good progress in my bowling, and I'm really enjoying working with him.”<h3>Morkel’s role in nourishing Reddy &nbsp;</h3>Team India bowling coach Morne Morkel has also played a handy role in nourishing Reddy as a bowler. Reddy revealed the areas the two are working on, and by believing in himself, he has upped his game.&nbsp;&nbsp;"We've been working on my consistency a lot since I get a bit of swing both ways," Reddy said. “I just want to be consistent on the areas. So we are working on that. I've been working hard on my bowling for one year or two years. I've been doing a lot of hard work, but later on, it is about understanding things and believing in myself. If you believe, that's when your hard work comes on point. That's what I'm realising now.”

His twin strikes set the tone for the day, as England deployed an old-school Test approach to share honours on day one.

Nitish Kumar Reddy came out of the syllabus for England on day one at Lord’s. While they prepared hard for the returning world no. 1 quick Jasprit Bumrah and Edgbaston Test hero for India, Akash Deep, gifting Reddy two wickets in his first over was never part of the plan. The medium pacer first removed Ben Duckett off a sluggish delivery before sending back under fire Zak Crawley off a peach. His twin strikes set the tone for the day, as England deployed an old-school Test approach to share honours on day one. Reddy, however, credited his IPL team (SRH) captain Pat Cummins for improvement in his bowling. Reddy debuted in Tests on the tour Down Under, primarily playing as a batting all-rounder. Less on pace and seam movement, the then-India captain Rohit Sharma didn’t use him enough on bouncy Aussie tracks. In IPL 2025, Reddy vowed to work on improving his bowling; he decided to approach his team skipper (Cummins), who helped him work on his pace and seam position, which paid dividends a few months later in London. Also read | IND vs ENG: Ben Stokes’ injury worries England as hosts prepare for run-heavy day 2 at Lord’s However, considering that the new skipper Shubman Gill introduced Reddy inside the first 15 overs, making him bowl 14 throughout the day – the same as Mohammed Siraj, it reflects the confidence he has in his bowling. On day one, unlike the frontline quicks, Reddy was slower through the air and even got more movement. The medium seamer also extracted the most average seam, more than Bumrah, and also attacked the stumps more often, troubling the English. "After the Australia tour, I felt like I have to improve my bowling and my consistency," Reddy said. "That's what I looked [at]. And yeah, Pat is my captain [in the IPL], and he's been brilliant in Australia, and I have asked him [for] some tips and he has been telling me how things would have been done in Australia, how can I go through in Australia. And that's a great experience for me, sharing with Pat Cummins. “Coming to this tour, I would say, working with Morne Morkel has been great for me. He's working with me for a couple of weeks, and we are seeing good progress in my bowling, and I'm really enjoying working with him.” Morkel’s role in nourishing Reddy Team India bowling coach Morne Morkel has also played a handy role in nourishing Reddy as a bowler. Reddy revealed the areas the two are working on, and by believing in himself, he has upped his game. "We've been working on my consistency a lot since I get a bit of swing both ways," Reddy said. “I just want to be consistent on the areas. So we are working on that. I've been working hard on my bowling for one year or two years. I've been doing a lot of hard work, but later on, it is about understanding things and believing in myself. If you believe, that's when your hard work comes on point. That's what I'm realising now.”

His twin strikes set the tone for the day, as England deployed an old-school Test approach to share honours on day one.

IND vs ENG, Lord’s Test: Reddy reveals how Australian captain Cummins helped improve his bowling

Ben Stokes was dismissed on a first-ball duck on day 3 (Jul 4) of the second Test against India at Edgbaston in Birmingham and became only the second England skipper ever to register this not-so-happy record. Before Stokes, Tony Lewis of England was dismissed for a golden duck against Indian during 1973 Test in Mumbai. Stokes is also the 11th skipper overall to register a golden duck against India in Tests. The last skipper overall was Pat Cummins of Australia who scored a golden duck against India in Tests during Delhi Test in 2023.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-eng-india-sink-to-new-low-as-jamie-smith-almost-eclipses-shahid-afridi-for-record-ton-at-edgbaston-1751634229200">IND vs ENG: WATCH | India sink to new low as Jamie Smith almost eclipses Shahid Afridi for record ton at Edgbaston</a><h2>List to Captain to Score Golden Ducks vs India in Tests</h2><ul><li>Gary Sobers (West Indies) in 1971</li><li>Tony Lewis (England) in 1973</li><li>Greg Chappell (Australia) in 1981</li><li>Arjuna Ranatunga (Sri Lanka) in 1994</li><li>Alastair Campbell (Zimbabwe) in 1998</li><li>Shaun Pollock (South Africa) in 2001</li><li>Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pakistan) in 2004</li><li>Younis Khan (Pakistan) in 2006</li><li>Michael Clarke (Australia) in 2013</li><li>Pat Cummins (Australia) in 2023</li><li>Ben Stokes (England) in 2025</li></ul><h2>Smith-Brook Revive Hosts in Edgbaston</h2>&nbsp;England wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith and Harry Brook have revived the hosts on day 3 of the second Test with an unbeaten 271-run partnership for the sixth wicket. England started the day from overnight score of 77/3 and were soon 84/5 before the duo, especially Smith, launched a counterattack.England added 172 runs in the first session despite two wickets as Smith completed his century off 80 balls - joint-third fastest for England in Tests. In the second session, England added 106 runs more without losing a wicket and were trailing by 232 runs in the first innings in reply of India's 587.Smith was batting 157 off 169 balls while Brook, England's white-ball skipper, was batting at 140 as England finished the second session at 355/5.&nbsp;

Stokes is also the 11th skipper overall to register a golden duck against India in Tests. The last skipper overall was Pat Cummins of Australia who scored a golden duck against India in Tests during Delhi Test in 2023.



Ben Stokes was dismissed on a first-ball duck on day 3 (Jul 4) of the second Test against India at Edgbaston in Birmingham and became only the second England skipper ever to register this not-so-happy record. Before Stokes, Tony Lewis of England was dismissed for a golden duck against Indian during 1973 Test in Mumbai. Stokes is also the 11th skipper overall to register a golden duck against India in Tests. The last skipper overall was Pat Cummins of Australia who scored a golden duck against India in Tests during Delhi Test in 2023. Also Read - IND vs ENG: WATCH | India sink to new low as Jamie Smith almost eclipses Shahid Afridi for record ton at Edgbaston List to Captain to Score Golden Ducks vs India in Tests Gary Sobers (West Indies) in 1971 Tony Lewis (England) in 1973 Greg Chappell (Australia) in 1981 Arjuna Ranatunga (Sri Lanka) in 1994 Alastair Campbell (Zimbabwe) in 1998 Shaun Pollock (South Africa) in 2001 Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pakistan) in 2004 Younis Khan (Pakistan) in 2006 Michael Clarke (Australia) in 2013 Pat Cummins (Australia) in 2023 Ben Stokes (England) in 2025 Smith-Brook Revive Hosts in Edgbaston England wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith and Harry Brook have revived the hosts on day 3 of the second Test with an unbeaten 271-run partnership for the sixth wicket. England started the day from overnight score of 77/3 and were soon 84/5 before the duo, especially Smith, launched a counterattack. England added 172 runs in the first session despite two wickets as Smith completed his century off 80 balls - joint-third fastest for England in Tests. In the second session, England added 106 runs more without losing a wicket and were trailing by 232 runs in the first innings in reply of India's 587. Smith was batting 157 off 169 balls while Brook, England's white-ball skipper, was batting at 140 as England finished the second session at 355/5.

Before Stokes, Tony Lewis of England was dismissed for a golden duck against Indian during 1973 Test in Mumbai. Stokes is also the 11th skipper overall to register a golden duck against India in Tests.

IND vs ENG: Ben Stokes joins Inzamam and Cummins in UNWANTED list with golden duck at Edgbaston

Good news for Australia as Steve Smith has resumed batting practice after missing out on playing the first Test against West Indies, which the visitors won by 159 runs inside three days. Smith, who dislocated his right hand’s little finger while attempting to complete a slip against South Africa at Lord’s, flew to his home in New York to complete his rehab. However, following Australia's statement win in Barbados, Aussie captain Pat Cummins hinted at Smith’s inclusion in the side for the Grenada Test, starting next Thursday (Jul 3), saying his injury looks fine now and that he even had a net session in the US.&nbsp;The latest reports suggest that Smith will join the squad in Bridgetown on Sunday (Jun 29) and, if declared fit, will return to the playing XI for the second Test. However, Smith still needs to tick off a few boxes before harbouring hopes of returning and strengthening Australia’s dodgy top order.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/west-indies-fast-bowler-shamar-joseph-accused-of-rape-by-11-women-teen-cousin-report-sexual-assault-arrest-australia-1751097886747">Shamar Joseph, Gabba fame West Indies quick, accused of rape by 11 women, including teen cousin – Report</a> &nbsp;Cummins said firstly, they have to see how comfortable Smith is while batting with a split on his finger, and secondly, considering he needs to wear a protective covering for up to eight weeks following the compound dislocation, how well he is coping with that. &nbsp;"He's had a few hits over in New York, which I think was with a tennis ball and an incredi-ball," Cummins said after Australia beat West Indies in the first Test "I think his wound is looking good, so the next stage is to come over here and hit some balls in the nets.” &nbsp;"So, we'll know more over the next few days,” he continued. &nbsp;Meanwhile, with no Marnus Labuschagne and Smith, Australia’s top four looked fragile against the West Indian quicks, failing to score runs across both innings. Although veteran batter Usman Khawaja did score a gritty 47 in the first innings despite getting dropped in the slips, none of the new-look top-order batters, including Cameron Green at three and Josh Inglis at four, helped the cause. &nbsp;Cummins, however, threw weight behind his young lot of batters to learn from such games and use that experience to become better Test cricketers.&nbsp; &nbsp;"You saw today how tricky a wicket that was, there weren't too many 50-run partnerships throughout the whole game," Cummins said. "Of course, the top order would like to score some more runs. The challenge of Test cricket, especially for young players, is when you get thrown different conditions, you've got to find a way to be effective. &nbsp;"That's the challenge for our young batting group – if you presented that same wicket next week, would you do anything differently? Would you not? &nbsp;"That will be the conversations over the next few days. &nbsp;"But we back them in, and their prep leading in was excellent and the way they're talking about playing is really good, so we've got full confidence,” he concluded.&nbsp; &nbsp;Meanwhile, Australia will fly to Grenada for the second Test on Monday (Jun 30) in what would be their first Test at the venue.&nbsp;

The latest reports suggest that Smith will join the squad in Bridgetown on Sunday (Jun 29) and, if declared fit, will return to the playing XI for the second Test.

Good news for Australia as Steve Smith has resumed batting practice after missing out on playing the first Test against West Indies, which the visitors won by 159 runs inside three days. Smith, who dislocated his right hand’s little finger while attempting to complete a slip against South Africa at Lord’s, flew to his home in New York to complete his rehab. However, following Australia's statement win in Barbados, Aussie captain Pat Cummins hinted at Smith’s inclusion in the side for the Grenada Test, starting next Thursday (Jul 3), saying his injury looks fine now and that he even had a net session in the US. The latest reports suggest that Smith will join the squad in Bridgetown on Sunday (Jun 29) and, if declared fit, will return to the playing XI for the second Test. However, Smith still needs to tick off a few boxes before harbouring hopes of returning and strengthening Australia’s dodgy top order. Also read | Shamar Joseph, Gabba fame West Indies quick, accused of rape by 11 women, including teen cousin – Report Cummins said firstly, they have to see how comfortable Smith is while batting with a split on his finger, and secondly, considering he needs to wear a protective covering for up to eight weeks following the compound dislocation, how well he is coping with that. "He's had a few hits over in New York, which I think was with a tennis ball and an incredi-ball," Cummins said after Australia beat West Indies in the first Test "I think his wound is looking good, so the next stage is to come over here and hit some balls in the nets.” "So, we'll know more over the next few days,” he continued. Meanwhile, with no Marnus Labuschagne and Smith, Australia’s top four looked fragile against the West Indian quicks, failing to score runs across both innings. Although veteran batter Usman Khawaja did score a gritty 47 in the first innings despite getting dropped in the slips, none of the new-look top-order batters, including Cameron Green at three and Josh Inglis at four, helped the cause. Cummins, however, threw weight behind his young lot of batters to learn from such games and use that experience to become better Test cricketers. "You saw today how tricky a wicket that was, there weren't too many 50-run partnerships throughout the whole game," Cummins said. "Of course, the top order would like to score some more runs. The challenge of Test cricket, especially for young players, is when you get thrown different conditions, you've got to find a way to be effective. "That's the challenge for our young batting group – if you presented that same wicket next week, would you do anything differently? Would you not? "That will be the conversations over the next few days. "But we back them in, and their prep leading in was excellent and the way they're talking about playing is really good, so we've got full confidence,” he concluded. Meanwhile, Australia will fly to Grenada for the second Test on Monday (Jun 30) in what would be their first Test at the venue.

The latest reports suggest that Smith will join the squad in Bridgetown on Sunday (Jun 29) and, if declared fit, will return to the playing XI for the second Test.

WI vs AUS: Steve Smith takes baby steps towards return as Cummins hints at his inclusion in second Test

The West Indies and Australia have locked in their playing XIs for the opening Test in Barbados that commences on Wednesday (June 26). The hosts have handed Brandon King a debut on the back of some good white-ball form, while hard-hitting batter Shai Hope returns for his first Test appearance since 2021 and will keep wickets and bat at No.6.&nbsp;There is also a recall for opener John Campbell, with Shamar and Alzarri Joseph and Jayden Seales making up a three-player pace attack with some help from bowling all-rounder Justin Greaves and spinner Jomel Warrican. New West Indies skipper Roston Chase is confident the changes to the XI will provide a more attacking style of play, as both sides get ready to commence the new ICC World Test Championship cycle.&nbsp;"We're looking to play with a bit more flair and bring back that Caribbean style to the game," Chase said. "We're just looking forward to making the Caribbean nation proud. I just want to ask the fans to just support the boys through and through."&nbsp;Australia, meanwhile, had already revealed that Sam Konstas and Josh Inglis would replace the injured Steve Smith and dropped Marnus Labuschagne for the clash, with skipper Pat Cummins confirming the batting order for the opening match of the three-game series that will see the teams battle it out for the Frank Worrell Trophy.&nbsp;Konstas will open alongside veteran left-hander Usman Khawaja, with Cameron Green continuing at No.3 despite a pair of failures in the recent World Test Championship Final against South Africa at Lord's. Inglis will slot in at No.4 in Smith's usual position ahead of Travis Head and Beau Webster, while the Aussies will use the same four bowlers that featured in the Ultimate Test in London earlier this month.&nbsp;That means there is no spot in the XI for back-up spinner Matt Kuhnemann, with Cummins instead deciding to stick with the three-pronged pace attack that has served the side so well during the last World Test Championship cycle. “Coming over here with a few unknowns, that's fine, you have to think on your feet. We feel like the three quicks are better suited for this wicket,” Cummins said.&nbsp;Cummins said he wanted to give Green an extended run at No.3 to provide a bit more stability to the batting line-up. "I always like to not have too many moving parts," Cummins added. "We see that (Green at No. 3) as a long-term option. I think going into last week he's hitting the ball really well, he's moving really well.&nbsp;"He had a Test match where it obviously didn't go to plan. Think he only faced three or four balls, so the message is not to look into that too much. We're really happy with where his game's placed and I dare say we'll get a decent run of number three."&nbsp;West Indies XI: Kraigg Brathwaite, John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Brandon King, Roston Chase (captain), Shai Hope (wicketkeeper), Justin Greaves, Jomel Warrican, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph and Jayden Seales&nbsp;Australia XI: Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wicketkeeper), Pat Cummins (captain), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood

Barbados showdown: Here’s the playing XI for West Indies and Australia

The West Indies and Australia have locked in their playing XIs for the opening Test in Barbados that commences on Wednesday (June 26). The hosts have handed Brandon King a debut on the back of some good white-ball form, while hard-hitting batter Shai Hope returns for his first Test appearance since 2021 and will keep wickets and bat at No.6. There is also a recall for opener John Campbell, with Shamar and Alzarri Joseph and Jayden Seales making up a three-player pace attack with some help from bowling all-rounder Justin Greaves and spinner Jomel Warrican. New West Indies skipper Roston Chase is confident the changes to the XI will provide a more attacking style of play, as both sides get ready to commence the new ICC World Test Championship cycle. "We're looking to play with a bit more flair and bring back that Caribbean style to the game," Chase said. "We're just looking forward to making the Caribbean nation proud. I just want to ask the fans to just support the boys through and through." Australia, meanwhile, had already revealed that Sam Konstas and Josh Inglis would replace the injured Steve Smith and dropped Marnus Labuschagne for the clash, with skipper Pat Cummins confirming the batting order for the opening match of the three-game series that will see the teams battle it out for the Frank Worrell Trophy. Konstas will open alongside veteran left-hander Usman Khawaja, with Cameron Green continuing at No.3 despite a pair of failures in the recent World Test Championship Final against South Africa at Lord's. Inglis will slot in at No.4 in Smith's usual position ahead of Travis Head and Beau Webster, while the Aussies will use the same four bowlers that featured in the Ultimate Test in London earlier this month. That means there is no spot in the XI for back-up spinner Matt Kuhnemann, with Cummins instead deciding to stick with the three-pronged pace attack that has served the side so well during the last World Test Championship cycle. “Coming over here with a few unknowns, that's fine, you have to think on your feet. We feel like the three quicks are better suited for this wicket,” Cummins said. Cummins said he wanted to give Green an extended run at No.3 to provide a bit more stability to the batting line-up. "I always like to not have too many moving parts," Cummins added. "We see that (Green at No. 3) as a long-term option. I think going into last week he's hitting the ball really well, he's moving really well. "He had a Test match where it obviously didn't go to plan. Think he only faced three or four balls, so the message is not to look into that too much. We're really happy with where his game's placed and I dare say we'll get a decent run of number three." West Indies XI: Kraigg Brathwaite, John Campbell, Keacy Carty, Brandon King, Roston Chase (captain), Shai Hope (wicketkeeper), Justin Greaves, Jomel Warrican, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph and Jayden Seales Australia XI: Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wicketkeeper), Pat Cummins (captain), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood

The hosts have handed Brandon King a debut on the back of some good white-ball form

Barbados showdown: Here’s the playing XI for West Indies and Australia for first Test. Who's in, who's out

Australia captain Pat Cummins said the World Test Championship final against South Africa was a good advertisement for Test cricket despite hurtling towards a likely finish within three days.&nbsp;An astounding 28 wickets fell across the first two days at Lord's.&nbsp;Fast bowler Cummins played his part by taking a superb 6-28 on Thursday's second day to reach the milestone of 300 Test wickets. But as batsmen on both sides struggled for runs, an eighth-wicket partnership of 61 between Alex Carey (43) and Mitchell Starc (16 not out) enabled reigning champions Australia to reach stumps on 144-8 in their second innings, a lead of 218 with two wickets standing.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wtc-final-day-2-score-sa-vs-aus-defending-champions-australia-slightly-ahead-after-another-14-wicket-day-1749749490558">WTC Final, SA vs AUS: Carey fightback puts Australia slightly ahead after another 14-wicket day</a>&nbsp;"It's set up pretty well," Cummins told reporters. "The mood in the changing room is pretty positive. It was a great partnership and a good way to end the day."&nbsp;Asked whether the bowlers' dominance detracted from the occasion of a championship final, Cummins replied: "After two days it's pretty close to 50-50.&nbsp;"It's a pretty good Test match. Some blokes have got themselves in and looked comfortable out there, but a lot of other guys haven't."&nbsp;Cummins said the rapid progress of the match was down to a combination of a tricky pitch and good bowling.&nbsp;"Both teams have bowled really well, really disciplined," he said. "There haven't been many half-volleys."&nbsp;The 32-year-old, appearing in his 68th Test, added: “The trend of the game is that the runs are coming down. It's still pretty difficult out there, but we will have to bowl well tomorrow (Friday).”<h2>‘Durability and longevity’</h2>&nbsp;Cummins was outstanding as South Africa were dismissed for 138, giving Australia a 74-run lead in the first innings, with the skipper especially devastating in a potent post-lunch burst of 4-1 in 17 balls.&nbsp;His return on Thursday took Cummins to exactly 300 Test wickets -- something he described as "pretty cool" -- at a miserly average of 22.08.&nbsp;Cummins, just the eighth Australian bowler to reach the landmark, added: "There's not too many on that list. It's something I've always thought about.&nbsp;"It's a pretty good sign of durability and longevity."&nbsp;David Bedingham, who top-scored for South Africa with 45, agreed with Cummins about the standard of bowling.&nbsp;"It's a fairly tricky pitch, but I think when you have six quality seamers on a tricky pitch, it obviously makes batting tough."&nbsp;Nevertheless, Bedingham said South Africa remained confident of a successful run chase, even though their target will be significantly higher than their first-innings total.&nbsp;"It is an amazing chance and we are very excited about the opportunity to win," he said, with South Africa bidding for their first major global title in 28 years. "It could go either way, but there is a lot of belief.&nbsp;"I think the pitch is slowing down a bit, and maybe in the fourth innings it will go a bit straighter. Hopefully, we can get those runs."&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

WTC Final 2025: Cummins feels it’s ‘50-50’, Bedingham backs Proteas to win

Australia captain Pat Cummins said the World Test Championship final against South Africa was a good advertisement for Test cricket despite hurtling towards a likely finish within three days. An astounding 28 wickets fell across the first two days at Lord's. Fast bowler Cummins played his part by taking a superb 6-28 on Thursday's second day to reach the milestone of 300 Test wickets. But as batsmen on both sides struggled for runs, an eighth-wicket partnership of 61 between Alex Carey (43) and Mitchell Starc (16 not out) enabled reigning champions Australia to reach stumps on 144-8 in their second innings, a lead of 218 with two wickets standing. Also read | WTC Final, SA vs AUS: Carey fightback puts Australia slightly ahead after another 14-wicket day "It's set up pretty well," Cummins told reporters. "The mood in the changing room is pretty positive. It was a great partnership and a good way to end the day." Asked whether the bowlers' dominance detracted from the occasion of a championship final, Cummins replied: "After two days it's pretty close to 50-50. "It's a pretty good Test match. Some blokes have got themselves in and looked comfortable out there, but a lot of other guys haven't." Cummins said the rapid progress of the match was down to a combination of a tricky pitch and good bowling. "Both teams have bowled really well, really disciplined," he said. "There haven't been many half-volleys." The 32-year-old, appearing in his 68th Test, added: “The trend of the game is that the runs are coming down. It's still pretty difficult out there, but we will have to bowl well tomorrow (Friday).” ‘Durability and longevity’ Cummins was outstanding as South Africa were dismissed for 138, giving Australia a 74-run lead in the first innings, with the skipper especially devastating in a potent post-lunch burst of 4-1 in 17 balls. His return on Thursday took Cummins to exactly 300 Test wickets -- something he described as "pretty cool" -- at a miserly average of 22.08. Cummins, just the eighth Australian bowler to reach the landmark, added: "There's not too many on that list. It's something I've always thought about. "It's a pretty good sign of durability and longevity." David Bedingham, who top-scored for South Africa with 45, agreed with Cummins about the standard of bowling. "It's a fairly tricky pitch, but I think when you have six quality seamers on a tricky pitch, it obviously makes batting tough." Nevertheless, Bedingham said South Africa remained confident of a successful run chase, even though their target will be significantly higher than their first-innings total. "It is an amazing chance and we are very excited about the opportunity to win," he said, with South Africa bidding for their first major global title in 28 years. "It could go either way, but there is a lot of belief. "I think the pitch is slowing down a bit, and maybe in the fourth innings it will go a bit straighter. Hopefully, we can get those runs." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Cummins said the rapid progress of the match was down to a combination of a tricky pitch and good bowling.

WTC Final 2025, Day 3: Cummins feels it’s ‘50-50’, Bedingham backs South Africa to chase at Lord’s

June 12, 2025 will always be a special day for Australia’s Test captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/pat-cummins">Pat Cummins</a>. During ongoing <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/wtc-final">ICC World Test Championship</a> (WTC) Final between Australia and South Africa at<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/lords-stadium"> Lord's stadium</a> in London, Cummins produced a magical bowling performance and broke three major records.&nbsp;Let's glance at the three records that Cummins broke on day 2 (June 12) of WTC Final against South Africa:&nbsp;Record 1: Best Bowling Figures in a WTC FinalCummins finished with stunning figures of 6 wickets for just 28 runs, the best-ever bowling performance in a World Test Championship Final. He bowled with precision and pace, constantly troubling the South African batters.&nbsp;Record 2: Most Fifers as Test Captain for AustraliaWith this six-wicket haul, Cummins now has nine five-wicket hauls as a captain in Test cricket. He equalled legendary Australian skipper Richie Benaud, who has as many fifers as Cummins. Only the 1992 World Cup-winning captain for Pakistan, Imran Khan, has more fifers (11) than Cummins.&nbsp;Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wtc-final-video-labuschagne-takes-screamer-at-covers-to-dismiss-bavuma-1749732892282">WTC Final | SA vs AUS: Labuschagne takes screamer at covers to dismiss Bavuma - WATCH</a>&nbsp;Record 3: Most Fifers in the Current WTC CycleCummins also became the bowler with the most five-wicket hauls (6) in the current World Test Championship cycle, further proving his consistency and impact for Australia across matches.&nbsp;Earlier, on Thursday (June 12) South Africa resumed their innings at 43/4 with captain Temba Bavuma and David Bedingham at the crease. The pair added 64 runs and looked to steady the innings. Just when it seemed like South Africa might take the game away from the defending champions, Marnus Labuschagne produced a moment of brilliance in the field to dismiss the Proteas skipper and break the partnership. From there, it was only Cummins vs South Africa at Lord's.&nbsp;Cummins' victims on the day included Bavuma, Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, and Kagiso Rabada. He picked five of the last six wickets to end South Africa’s hopes of a comeback.&nbsp;Former England captain Michael Vaughan praised Cummins for his exceptional performance. Writing on X (formerly Twitter), he said:“I don’t remember a time when the Aussies needed something from Cummins that he didn’t deliver.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I don’t remember a time when the Aussies needed something from Cummins that he didn’t deliver .. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WTCFinal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WTCFinal</a>&mdash; Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) <a href="https://twitter.com/MichaelVaughan/status/1933146032944095299?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

It was truly a memorable day for the Aussie skipper; with an exceptional spell, he broke three significant records and turned the game for Australia.

In the ongoing ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final between Australia and South Africa at Lord's stadium in London, Cummins produced a magical bowling performance and broke three major records.

June 12, 2025 will always be a special day for Australia’s Test captain Pat Cummins. During ongoing ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final between Australia and South Africa at Lord's stadium in London, Cummins produced a magical bowling performance and broke three major records. Let's glance at the three records that Cummins broke on day 2 (June 12) of WTC Final against South Africa: Record 1: Best Bowling Figures in a WTC Final Cummins finished with stunning figures of 6 wickets for just 28 runs, the best-ever bowling performance in a World Test Championship Final. He bowled with precision and pace, constantly troubling the South African batters. Record 2: Most Fifers as Test Captain for Australia With this six-wicket haul, Cummins now has nine five-wicket hauls as a captain in Test cricket. He equalled legendary Australian skipper Richie Benaud, who has as many fifers as Cummins. Only the 1992 World Cup-winning captain for Pakistan, Imran Khan, has more fifers (11) than Cummins. Also Read | WTC Final | SA vs AUS: Labuschagne takes screamer at covers to dismiss Bavuma - WATCH Record 3: Most Fifers in the Current WTC Cycle Cummins also became the bowler with the most five-wicket hauls (6) in the current World Test Championship cycle, further proving his consistency and impact for Australia across matches. Earlier, on Thursday (June 12) South Africa resumed their innings at 43/4 with captain Temba Bavuma and David Bedingham at the crease. The pair added 64 runs and looked to steady the innings. Just when it seemed like South Africa might take the game away from the defending champions, Marnus Labuschagne produced a moment of brilliance in the field to dismiss the Proteas skipper and break the partnership. From there, it was only Cummins vs South Africa at Lord's. Cummins' victims on the day included Bavuma, Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, and Kagiso Rabada. He picked five of the last six wickets to end South Africa’s hopes of a comeback. Former England captain Michael Vaughan praised Cummins for his exceptional performance. Writing on X (formerly Twitter), he said: “I don’t remember a time when the Aussies needed something from Cummins that he didn’t deliver.”

In the ongoing ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final between Australia and South Africa at Lord's stadium in London, Cummins produced a magical bowling performance and broke three major records.

WTC Final 2025, SA vs AUS : Cummins breaks multiple records with five-wicket haul at Lord's

5 Fast Bowlers to win Most ICC Titles – No Indian on the List

Not many fast bowlers have won more than one ICC title; however, there are a handful, and all from just one team, to win a plethora of them. Here's the list of those who have won it four times and could be adding another one to their names sooner.&nbsp;

 From Jasprit Bumrah of India to Pat Cummins of Australia, these five bowlers have most five wicket hauls in current WTC cycle.

&nbsp;From Jasprit Bumrah of India to Pat Cummins of Australia, these five bowlers have most five wicket hauls in current WTC cycle.

WTC 2023–25: Five bowlers with most five-wicket hauls. 2 Indians in the list, check others

With two cricketing giants in India and Australia preparing for their respective series/match in the UK, reports of one facing the rejection of training at a venue at the ‘other’s expense’ have surfaced lately. Australia, the 2025 WTC finalist, was reportedly denied permission to train at the Lord’s Cricket Stadium this past Saturday (June 7), three days before the final at the very venue against South Africa, only because the Indian Team had occupied the training facility, leaving their captain Pat Cummins fuming over it.&nbsp; &nbsp;Per several reports emerging from Down Under, the Indian Team trained at the venue upon landing in England for their marquee five-match Test series starting June 20 in Leeds, while the Aussies, who were earlier training in Beckenham, were denied permission to resume practice at the venue where they are playing the final at.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-bcci-changes-venues-for-2025-international-home-season-over-concerns-around-post-diwali-aqi-indian-cricket-team-south-africa-delhi-kolkata-1749455542851">BCCI changes venues for 2025 home season over concerns around post-Diwali AQI</a> &nbsp;As reported by Code Sports, the Shubman Gill-led Indian Test team trained on the day (Saturday) at Lord’s, while the authorities there informed WTC finalists that the training facility remains ‘unavailable’ for them, forcing them to make a three-hour trip to find an appropriate training venue. &nbsp;Even though the newly-named Tendulkar-Anderson series will not get underway even five days after the final day of the 2025 WTC Final, and India and England face off at the venue (in the third Test) on July 20, the Australians were asked to look out for options elsewhere. &nbsp;Meanwhile, on Sunday (June 8), the BCCI uploaded a video on its social media handles showing Gill-led India beginning indoor training before moving outdoors and doing run-ups and playing football. The squad gelled well together in the training before hitting the nets.<h2>Cummins taunts Lord’s crowd &nbsp;</h2>Considering what unfolded the last time when Australia played a Test at Lord’s (between Alex Carey and Jonny Bairstow), Cummins taunted the crowd here, saying,&nbsp; &nbsp;“I think this is the best version of the stadium this morning. There’s no one around, which is great. I’m sure it will be much more civil this time around. Things got pretty heated in the middle of that Ashes series, but I think a lot of them will have learned their lesson, and I’m sure they’ll be very polite." &nbsp;Australia and South Africa will face off in the third WTC Final at the mecca of cricket at Lord’s. While the Proteas have entered their first WTC Final, the Aussies are the defending champions, having beaten India last time.&nbsp;

Australia captain Cummins fumes as India preferred over WTC finalists to train at Lord’s – Report

With two cricketing giants in India and Australia preparing for their respective series/match in the UK, reports of one facing the rejection of training at a venue at the ‘other’s expense’ have surfaced lately. Australia, the 2025 WTC finalist, was reportedly denied permission to train at the Lord’s Cricket Stadium this past Saturday (June 7), three days before the final at the very venue against South Africa, only because the Indian Team had occupied the training facility, leaving their captain Pat Cummins fuming over it. Per several reports emerging from Down Under, the Indian Team trained at the venue upon landing in England for their marquee five-match Test series starting June 20 in Leeds, while the Aussies, who were earlier training in Beckenham, were denied permission to resume practice at the venue where they are playing the final at. Also read | BCCI changes venues for 2025 home season over concerns around post-Diwali AQI As reported by Code Sports, the Shubman Gill-led Indian Test team trained on the day (Saturday) at Lord’s, while the authorities there informed WTC finalists that the training facility remains ‘unavailable’ for them, forcing them to make a three-hour trip to find an appropriate training venue. Even though the newly-named Tendulkar-Anderson series will not get underway even five days after the final day of the 2025 WTC Final, and India and England face off at the venue (in the third Test) on July 20, the Australians were asked to look out for options elsewhere. Meanwhile, on Sunday (June 8), the BCCI uploaded a video on its social media handles showing Gill-led India beginning indoor training before moving outdoors and doing run-ups and playing football. The squad gelled well together in the training before hitting the nets. Cummins taunts Lord’s crowd Considering what unfolded the last time when Australia played a Test at Lord’s (between Alex Carey and Jonny Bairstow), Cummins taunted the crowd here, saying, “I think this is the best version of the stadium this morning. There’s no one around, which is great. I’m sure it will be much more civil this time around. Things got pretty heated in the middle of that Ashes series, but I think a lot of them will have learned their lesson, and I’m sure they’ll be very polite." Australia and South Africa will face off in the third WTC Final at the mecca of cricket at Lord’s. While the Proteas have entered their first WTC Final, the Aussies are the defending champions, having beaten India last time.

Australia, the 2025 WTC finalist, was reportedly denied permission to train at the Lord’s Cricket Stadium this past Saturday (June 7), three days before the final at the very venue against South Africa.&nbsp;

The Ultimate Test is scheduled to take place at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London from June 11, 2025, where South Africa will take on defending champions Australia in what promises to be a high-intensity clash. Sports

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday (15 May) has announced a massive prize pool for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 Final, with the winners to earn $3.6 million (₹30.80 crore approx) and the runners-up will bag $2.16 million (₹18.48 crore approx). This marks a 125 percent increase for the champions' prize money and a whopping 162.5 percent jump for the runners-up from the previous editions. Earlier, the winners of both the 2021 and 2023 WTC finals received $1.6 million (₹13.3 crore), while the runners-up got $ 800,000 (₹6.6 crore). View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jay Shah (@jayshah220988) The Ultimate Test is scheduled to take place at the iconic Lord’s Stadium in London from June 11, 2025, where South Africa will take on defending champions Australia in what promises to be a high-intensity clash. Also Read | ENG vs IND 2025: No clear choice for India's Test captaincy yet as selectors unsure of Gill, dicey over Bumrah - Report South Africa booked their place in the final after topping the WTC25 standings, powered by series wins over Pakistan, West Indies, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, and a drawn series against India. Australia, on the other hand, sealed their final spot with a 3-1 Border-Gavaskar Trophy triumph over India, alongside strong performances against Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand. ICC Chairman Jay Shah expressed excitement at the announcement. He was quoted saying, “We have witnessed a very interesting third cycle of the ICC World Test Championship, where the finalists were decided only towards the end of the competition. The championship has showcased remarkable performances from players of different teams, culminating in a final between these two exceptional squads - a true celebration of cricket.” South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma shared his words on the announcement. “We’re pleased to have made it. It’s a big chance for us to win an ICC title. Lord’s is the perfect stage, and we’ll give it our all,” as reported by ICC. Australia captain Pat Cummins added, “Defending our title at Lord’s is a huge honour. Credit goes to all who made this possible. We’re ready for the South African challenge,” the ICC said. The ICC has even posted a teaser to bring up the heat for the blockbuster clash starting on 11 June. A battle of wills, minds and hearts in the Ultimate Test 👊 The #WTC25 Final at Lord's is upon us 🏟 pic.twitter.com/JsNXpmgOXD — ICC (@ICC) May 15, 2025 With both teams eyeing glory, where South Africa is chasing their first ICC title and Australia aiming to become the first two-time WTC champions, the stage is all set for a blockbuster finale at the Home of Cricket. Below is the information on what the Top 10 teams will earn from this WTC cycle. Position Team Prize money in USD Winner Australia/South Africa 3,600,000 Runners-up Australia/South Africa 2,160,000 Third India 1,440,000 Fourth New Zealand 1,200,000 Fifth England 960,000 Sixth Sri Lanka 840,000 Seventh Bangladesh 720,000 Eighth West Indies 600,000 Ninth Pakistan 480,000

WTC Final: ICC announces Rs 17,00,00,000 hike in winner's prize money, runners-up to get nearly 162 percent more

The BCCI and IPL franchises have started mounting pressure on overseas boards to have their players return to play the IPL's resumption on May 17.
The BCCI's leadership has directed <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/indian-premier-league">IPL</a> COO Hemang Amin to personally approach the likes of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/cricket-australia">Cricket Australia</a> and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in order to mitigate the fears that the players might have about returning to India.
All the 10 teams are having several back and forth discussions with their foreign players in regards to their plans of arrival in India a day after the IPL declared the new schedule after requisite security clearances from the government.
The IPL was put on hold on May 9 due to rising India-Pakistan tensions
"We have been speaking to the foreign boards individually while teams are directly dealing with their players. We expect majority of them to return," a BCCI official told PTI on Tuesday.
CA has left it in the hands of the players to make their decision and in situations like these, the players' association has something to say.
Team officials, however, informed PTI that some of the foreign players are still eager to return but most of them should return prior to the resumption of the tournament.
"The revised scheduled was announced last night. We have just started contacting our foreign players over their availability. We will have a clearer picture by tomorrow morning. Anyway our game is on May 20. We have enough time," said CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan.
CSK foreign players are Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Sam Curran, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad and Matheesha Pathirana.
<h2>Stoinis unlikely to return; Cummins set to fly back</h2>
At Punjab Kings, Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis and fellow countryman Josh Inglis won't be returning to India although head coach Ricky Ponting is doing his level best to persuade them.
Aussie countrymen Xavier Bartlett and Aaron Hardie and Afghanistan's Azmatullah Omarzai and South African Marco Jansen will return.
"The foreign players were scared at that time and understandably so. The BCCI showed the safety of the players is paramount by ensuring they all got back home safely. Now the situation has got better, the players should return. However, some of them still remain on the edge," said an IPL official.
Like Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad too are out of the tournament but the franchise is hopeful that captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/pat-cummins">Pat Cummins</a> and Travis Head will be back for the last three league matches. "We are hopeful that most of foreign players will be back including the captain," a team official said.
Delhi Capitals, who are still in the race for a top-four position, spoke to their foreign players on Tuesday morning and are expecting to hear back from them. Australian fast bowler <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/mitchell-starc">Mitchell Starc</a> is one of DC's star players.
"We hope that all of them come back. We will get to know about it by tomorrow," replied a team official.
The IPL final on May 25 has been rescheduled to June 3.

India News, Sports: The remainder of the tournament will be played across six venues - Bengaluru, Jaipur, Delhi, Lucknow, Mumbai and Ahmedabad

The BCCI and IPL franchises have started mounting pressure on overseas boards to have their players return to play the IPL's resumption on May 17. The BCCI's leadership has directed IPL COO Hemang Amin to personally approach the likes of Cricket Australia and England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in order to mitigate the fears that the players might have about returning to India. All the 10 teams are having several back and forth discussions with their foreign players in regards to their plans of arrival in India a day after the IPL declared the new schedule after requisite security clearances from the government. The IPL was put on hold on May 9 due to rising India-Pakistan tensions "We have been speaking to the foreign boards individually while teams are directly dealing with their players. We expect majority of them to return," a BCCI official told PTI on Tuesday. CA has left it in the hands of the players to make their decision and in situations like these, the players' association has something to say. Team officials, however, informed PTI that some of the foreign players are still eager to return but most of them should return prior to the resumption of the tournament. "The revised scheduled was announced last night. We have just started contacting our foreign players over their availability. We will have a clearer picture by tomorrow morning. Anyway our game is on May 20. We have enough time," said CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan. CSK foreign players are Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Sam Curran, Jamie Overton, Noor Ahmad and Matheesha Pathirana. Stoinis unlikely to return; Cummins set to fly back At Punjab Kings, Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis and fellow countryman Josh Inglis won't be returning to India although head coach Ricky Ponting is doing his level best to persuade them. Aussie countrymen Xavier Bartlett and Aaron Hardie and Afghanistan's Azmatullah Omarzai and South African Marco Jansen will return. "The foreign players were scared at that time and understandably so. The BCCI showed the safety of the players is paramount by ensuring they all got back home safely. Now the situation has got better, the players should return. However, some of them still remain on the edge," said an IPL official. Like Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad too are out of the tournament but the franchise is hopeful that captain Pat Cummins and Travis Head will be back for the last three league matches. "We are hopeful that most of foreign players will be back including the captain," a team official said. Delhi Capitals, who are still in the race for a top-four position, spoke to their foreign players on Tuesday morning and are expecting to hear back from them. Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc is one of DC's star players. "We hope that all of them come back. We will get to know about it by tomorrow," replied a team official. The IPL final on May 25 has been rescheduled to June 3.

IPL 2025 | BCCI scrambles to get foreign players as IPL sets for resumption: Who will return and who won’t? Deets inside

Cricket Australia has backed the players' individual decisions as they face tough coming weeks ahead of the World Test Championship (WTC) final against South Africa. In a statement released on Tuesday (May 13), the apex body of Australian Cricket vows to back the individual decisions as players are contract-tied with the Indian Premier League (IPL). In case the players included in the WTC final squad commit to playing in the IPL 2025 and reach the final, they will have only one week to prepare, including travel.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">CA to support players' decision</h2>
"Cricket Australia will support players in their individual decisions whether to return to India or not," CA said in a statement.
"Team management will work through the preparation implications for the World Test Championship final for those players who choose to play in the remaining IPL matches.
"We are maintaining communication with the Australian Government and BCCI around security arrangements and safety."
The IPL Playoffs are scheduled to start from May 29, with the final taking place on June 3.
On Tuesday, Cricket Australia announced the squad for the WTC final with the likes of Pat Cummins, Travis Head and Mitchell Starc still involved. While Cummins and Head (part of the WTC final squad) won&rsquo;t play in the IPL 2025 Playoffs and final, they will have a decision in hand with only three more games remaining in the league season for SunRisers Hyderabad.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bcci-releases-ipl-2025-revised-schedule-tournament-to-restart-on-may-17-final-in-june-9062057" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">BCCI releases IPL 2025 revised schedule, tournament to restart on May 17, final in June</a>
However, that won&rsquo;t be the case for Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis and Mitchell Starc as their IPL sides are destined to play in the Playoffs. These players are also named in the 15-man squad for the WTC final by Cricket Australia.
So if any player from the trio features in the IPL final, they will have only seven days to prepare before the WTC summit clash starts at Lord&rsquo;s Cricket Ground against South Africa.

In case the Australian players included in the WTC final squad commit to playing in the IPL 2025 and reach the final, they will have only one week to prepare. World | Cricket | Sports

Cricket Australia has backed the players' individual decisions as they face tough coming weeks ahead of the World Test Championship (WTC) final against South Africa. In a statement released on Tuesday (May 13), the apex body of Australian Cricket vows to back the individual decisions as players are contract-tied with the Indian Premier League (IPL). In case the players included in the WTC final squad commit to playing in the IPL 2025 and reach the final, they will have only one week to prepare, including travel. CA to support players' decision "Cricket Australia will support players in their individual decisions whether to return to India or not," CA said in a statement. "Team management will work through the preparation implications for the World Test Championship final for those players who choose to play in the remaining IPL matches. "We are maintaining communication with the Australian Government and BCCI around security arrangements and safety." The IPL Playoffs are scheduled to start from May 29, with the final taking place on June 3. On Tuesday, Cricket Australia announced the squad for the WTC final with the likes of Pat Cummins, Travis Head and Mitchell Starc still involved. While Cummins and Head (part of the WTC final squad) won’t play in the IPL 2025 Playoffs and final, they will have a decision in hand with only three more games remaining in the league season for SunRisers Hyderabad. ALSO READ | BCCI releases IPL 2025 revised schedule, tournament to restart on May 17, final in June However, that won’t be the case for Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis and Mitchell Starc as their IPL sides are destined to play in the Playoffs. These players are also named in the 15-man squad for the WTC final by Cricket Australia. So if any player from the trio features in the IPL final, they will have only seven days to prepare before the WTC summit clash starts at Lord’s Cricket Ground against South Africa.

'Will support players': Cricket Australia backs individual decisions ahead of rescheduled IPL 2025

Pat Cummins-led Australia have named their 15-man squad for the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) final as they take on South Africa in the only Test. The final set to take place at the iconic Lord&rsquo;s Cricket Ground in London will see the return of Cameron Green. The Aussie all-rounder missed the Sri Lanka series and the Champions Trophy along with the Indian Premier League, but has now recovered from the back issue to feature.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Cameron Green returns for Australia<o:p></o:p></h2>
One of the best Australian all-rounders in recent times, Green had recovered well for the Aussies, having missed cricket for the majority of the last year. Green last played for the Aussies in September 2024 against England and was missing from the squad thereafter due to injury. His last Test appearance came in March 2024 against New Zealand, after which he was largely troubled by injuries. <o:p></o:p>
The injury forced Green to miss the key series against India and Sri Lanka, while he also played no part in the Champions Trophy 2025, where Australia lost in the semis to India. He has represented Australia in 28 Test matches, scoring 1377 runs, including two hundreds. He has also scalped 35 wickets during the period. He recently returned to competitive action in English County cricket, representing Gloucestershire.<o:p></o:p>
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bcci-releases-ipl-2025-revised-schedule-tournament-to-restart-on-may-17-final-in-june-9062057" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">BCCI releases IPL 2025 revised schedule, tournament to restart on May 17, final in June</a> 
On the other hand, the squad also features the return of Matt Kuhnemann, but is expected to play second fiddle to Nathan Lyon. Sam Konstas will also return to the squad for Australia as the selectors showed faith in him. He had earlier returned midway from the Sri Lanka series in January to play in the Sheffield Shield. He had a mixed India tour where Konstas was in and out of the squad. Brendan Doggett has been named a travelling reserve in case any injury affects the squad. <o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Australia squad for WTC final<o:p></o:p></h2>
Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster. Travelling reserve: Brendan Doggett<o:p></o:p>

Pat Cummins-led Australia have named their 15-man squad for the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) final as they take on South Africa in the only Test. Cricket | Sports

Pat Cummins-led Australia have named their 15-man squad for the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) final as they take on South Africa in the only Test. The final set to take place at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London will see the return of Cameron Green. The Aussie all-rounder missed the Sri Lanka series and the Champions Trophy along with the Indian Premier League, but has now recovered from the back issue to feature. Cameron Green returns for Australia One of the best Australian all-rounders in recent times, Green had recovered well for the Aussies, having missed cricket for the majority of the last year. Green last played for the Aussies in September 2024 against England and was missing from the squad thereafter due to injury. His last Test appearance came in March 2024 against New Zealand, after which he was largely troubled by injuries. The injury forced Green to miss the key series against India and Sri Lanka, while he also played no part in the Champions Trophy 2025, where Australia lost in the semis to India. He has represented Australia in 28 Test matches, scoring 1377 runs, including two hundreds. He has also scalped 35 wickets during the period. He recently returned to competitive action in English County cricket, representing Gloucestershire. ALSO READ | BCCI releases IPL 2025 revised schedule, tournament to restart on May 17, final in June On the other hand, the squad also features the return of Matt Kuhnemann, but is expected to play second fiddle to Nathan Lyon. Sam Konstas will also return to the squad for Australia as the selectors showed faith in him. He had earlier returned midway from the Sri Lanka series in January to play in the Sheffield Shield. He had a mixed India tour where Konstas was in and out of the squad. Brendan Doggett has been named a travelling reserve in case any injury affects the squad. Australia squad for WTC final Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster. Travelling reserve: Brendan Doggett

WTC Final: Pat Cummins-led Australia name 15-man squad, Cameron Green returns after back injury

From Jofra Archer to Pat Cummins,  here are IPL 2025’s six most expensive bowling spells, with three Indian pacers included in the list. Cricket Sports Photos.

IPL 2025: 6 bowlers with most runs conceded; number 3 will shock you!

SunRisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins has taken aim at the Wankhede Stadium pitch after his side&rsquo;s latest defeat in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) at the hands of Mumbai Indians. Playing on Thursday at the iconic venue, Mumbai won the match by four wickets, while SRH were condemned to their fifth defeat of the season. The result now sees SRH occupy the ninth spot and are in danger of missing out on a spot in the Playoffs.
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Cummins takes aim at Wankhede Stadium pitch</h2>
&ldquo;It wasn't the easiest wicket. Few runs short, we would have liked a couple more with the bat. Tricky wicket, when you come here you expect it to be really fluent and fast, just wasn't that. They bowled really well, shut down a lot of our hitting areas. I thought we had all our bases covered, with 160 you feel like you are a little bit short. We gave it a good crack with the ball,&rdquo; said Cummins in the post-match presentation.
According to Cummins, the pitch played a crucial role as SRH batters struggled big time. Having chased a 245-run target in their last home game, SRH found the going tough in the challenging conditions of Wankhede Stadium. They were restricted to 162/5 in 20 overs with Abhishek Sharma top scoring with 40 runs.
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The total was no challenge for the five-time champions as Mumbai beat SRH by six wickets and 11 balls to spare. All of the Mumbai Indians batters made healthy contributions as they registered back-to-back wins in the IPL 2025. They now have six points from seven matches with a positive net run rate with a playoff spot still in the reckoning.
SRH are next in action on Wednesday (April 23) when they face Mumbai Indians in the return leg at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. In the meantime, Mumbai will face arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings on Sunday at the Wankhede Stadium, targeting a hat-trick of wins.

India News Cricket | Sports: SRH captain Pat Cummins has taken aim at the Wankhede Stadium pitch after his side’s latest defeat in the IPL 2025 at the hands of MI.

SunRisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins has taken aim at the Wankhede Stadium pitch after his side’s latest defeat in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) at the hands of Mumbai Indians. Playing on Thursday at the iconic venue, Mumbai won the match by four wickets, while SRH were condemned to their fifth defeat of the season. The result now sees SRH occupy the ninth spot and are in danger of missing out on a spot in the Playoffs. Cummins takes aim at Wankhede Stadium pitch “It wasn't the easiest wicket. Few runs short, we would have liked a couple more with the bat. Tricky wicket, when you come here you expect it to be really fluent and fast, just wasn't that. They bowled really well, shut down a lot of our hitting areas. I thought we had all our bases covered, with 160 you feel like you are a little bit short. We gave it a good crack with the ball,” said Cummins in the post-match presentation. According to Cummins, the pitch played a crucial role as SRH batters struggled big time. Having chased a 245-run target in their last home game, SRH found the going tough in the challenging conditions of Wankhede Stadium. They were restricted to 162/5 in 20 overs with Abhishek Sharma top scoring with 40 runs. ALSO READ | WWE: Triple H reveals real reason behind WrestleMania 41 Night 1 main event The total was no challenge for the five-time champions as Mumbai beat SRH by six wickets and 11 balls to spare. All of the Mumbai Indians batters made healthy contributions as they registered back-to-back wins in the IPL 2025. They now have six points from seven matches with a positive net run rate with a playoff spot still in the reckoning. SRH are next in action on Wednesday (April 23) when they face Mumbai Indians in the return leg at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. In the meantime, Mumbai will face arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings on Sunday at the Wankhede Stadium, targeting a hat-trick of wins.

IPL 2025: Pat Cummins takes aim at Wankhede pitch for latest defeat, says 'it wasn't the easiest wicket'

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/pat-cummins">Pat Cummins</a> believes his team has established a blueprint for the rest of the Indian Premier League 2025 season following their commanding 44-run victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR).
Batting first, SRH put up a staggering total of 286/6&mdash;just one shy of the highest-ever IPL score&mdash;thanks to a scintillating maiden IPL century from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ishan-kishan">Ishan Kishan</a>. The wicketkeeper-batter smashed an unbeaten 106 off 47 balls, peppering the boundary with 11 fours and six sixes. Travis Head complemented the onslaught with a rapid 67 off 31 balls, featuring nine fours and three sixes.
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Despite a valiant effort from Rajasthan, who managed 242/6 in their 20 overs, they fell short in the high-scoring contest. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/sanju-samson">Sanju Samson</a> (66 off 38) and Dhruv Jurel (70 off 38) provided resistance with a 111-run stand for the fourth wicket, but their efforts weren&rsquo;t enough to overhaul the mammoth target.
<h2>'I wouldn't want to bowl to our boys'</h2>
Cummins, speaking after the match, praised his team&rsquo;s batting firepower and Kishan&rsquo;s special knock.
"I wouldn't want to bowl to our boys. That was scary. We knew it would be tough for the bowlers, but with such a big score, one over can change the game. Ishan was incredible today. We&rsquo;ve been trying to play with freedom, and our preparation has been fantastic. The boys have set a template for how we want to approach the rest of the tournament," he said.
Rajasthan&rsquo;s chase got off to a rocky start, losing Yashasvi Jaiswal (1), stand-in captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/riyan-parag">Riyan Parag</a> (4), and Nitish Rana (11) within the first five overs. However, Samson and Jurel revived hopes with their aggressive stroke play. Samson reached his fifty in 26 balls, while Jurel brought up his half-century in 28.
Just when RR looked back in the game, Harshal Patel dismissed Samson in the 14th over, followed by Adam Zampa sending Jurel back in the next. Despite late fireworks from Shimron Hetmyer (42 off 23) and Shubham Dubey (34* off 11, strike rate 309.09), Rajasthan couldn&rsquo;t bridge the gap.
Harshal Patel and Simranjeet Singh picked two wickets each, ensuring SRH sealed an emphatic win in a match that saw a combined 528 runs in 40 overs.
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: Batting first, SRH put up a staggering total of 286/6—just one shy of the highest-ever IPL score—thanks to a maiden IPL century from Ishan Kishan

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) captain Pat Cummins believes his team has established a blueprint for the rest of the Indian Premier League 2025 season following their commanding 44-run victory over Rajasthan Royals (RR). Batting first, SRH put up a staggering total of 286/6—just one shy of the highest-ever IPL score—thanks to a scintillating maiden IPL century from Ishan Kishan. The wicketkeeper-batter smashed an unbeaten 106 off 47 balls, peppering the boundary with 11 fours and six sixes. Travis Head complemented the onslaught with a rapid 67 off 31 balls, featuring nine fours and three sixes. Also Read: 'Love is in the air': Tiger Woods confirms relationship with Donald Trump's ex daughter-in-law Despite a valiant effort from Rajasthan, who managed 242/6 in their 20 overs, they fell short in the high-scoring contest. Sanju Samson (66 off 38) and Dhruv Jurel (70 off 38) provided resistance with a 111-run stand for the fourth wicket, but their efforts weren’t enough to overhaul the mammoth target. 'I wouldn't want to bowl to our boys' Cummins, speaking after the match, praised his team’s batting firepower and Kishan’s special knock. "I wouldn't want to bowl to our boys. That was scary. We knew it would be tough for the bowlers, but with such a big score, one over can change the game. Ishan was incredible today. We’ve been trying to play with freedom, and our preparation has been fantastic. The boys have set a template for how we want to approach the rest of the tournament," he said. Rajasthan’s chase got off to a rocky start, losing Yashasvi Jaiswal (1), stand-in captain Riyan Parag (4), and Nitish Rana (11) within the first five overs. However, Samson and Jurel revived hopes with their aggressive stroke play. Samson reached his fifty in 26 balls, while Jurel brought up his half-century in 28. Just when RR looked back in the game, Harshal Patel dismissed Samson in the 14th over, followed by Adam Zampa sending Jurel back in the next. Despite late fireworks from Shimron Hetmyer (42 off 23) and Shubham Dubey (34* off 11, strike rate 309.09), Rajasthan couldn’t bridge the gap. Harshal Patel and Simranjeet Singh picked two wickets each, ensuring SRH sealed an emphatic win in a match that saw a combined 528 runs in 40 overs. (With inputs from agencies)

IPL 2025: 'Team has set template for success', says SRH captain Pat Cummins after dominant win over RR

Australia Test and ODI skipper Pat Cummins has started to bowl as he begins his rehab for the ankle issue picked up during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against India in December 2024-January 2025. The ace bowler, owing to his ankle, had to miss out on Australia's Test tour of Sri Lanka as well as the ongoing Champions Trophy. Cummins now plans to make a comeback in IPL and play in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final in June against South Africa later this year.
"The ankle is all going strong, [have been] able to give it a good rest and then been building up slowly, which you don't get to do when you play lots of cricket," Cummins said in a conversation with cricket news website ESPNCricinfo.&nbsp;
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"It's feeling as strong as it has for a fair while. Should be fine [for the IPL], that's the plan. So have a few weeks of bowling, building back up and then hopefully don't have to worry about it for a while."
Talking about the issue, Cummins revealed that he has decided not to have the surgery but to manage the ankle with rehab work.
"It's something that we've opted never to have surgery on or intervene too much, just a lot to rehab," he explained. "Having this break meant that I could get a couple of cortisones and really rehab it well the last couple of weeks."
Cummins is one of the most successful skippers currently in the world. His side won the last WTC title beating India in the final in 2023. Australia then went on to win the ODI World Cup later that year in India and again beat India in the final.
They also reached the semi-final of the T20 World Cup in 2024 and under Cummins, IPL side SunRisers Hyderabad also reached the 2024 edition's final.

The ace bowler and Australian skipper, owing to his ankle, had to miss out on Australia's Test tour of Sri Lanka as well as the ongoing Champions Trophy. Cricket Sports

Australia Test and ODI skipper Pat Cummins has started to bowl as he begins his rehab for the ankle issue picked up during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against India in December 2024-January 2025. The ace bowler, owing to his ankle, had to miss out on Australia's Test tour of Sri Lanka as well as the ongoing Champions Trophy. Cummins now plans to make a comeback in IPL and play in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final in June against South Africa later this year. "The ankle is all going strong, [have been] able to give it a good rest and then been building up slowly, which you don't get to do when you play lots of cricket," Cummins said in a conversation with cricket news website ESPNCricinfo. Also Read: Champions Trophy 2025: Over 100 Pakistani policemen dismissed for refusing duty "It's feeling as strong as it has for a fair while. Should be fine [for the IPL], that's the plan. So have a few weeks of bowling, building back up and then hopefully don't have to worry about it for a while." Talking about the issue, Cummins revealed that he has decided not to have the surgery but to manage the ankle with rehab work. "It's something that we've opted never to have surgery on or intervene too much, just a lot to rehab," he explained. "Having this break meant that I could get a couple of cortisones and really rehab it well the last couple of weeks." Cummins is one of the most successful skippers currently in the world. His side won the last WTC title beating India in the final in 2023. Australia then went on to win the ODI World Cup later that year in India and again beat India in the final. They also reached the semi-final of the T20 World Cup in 2024 and under Cummins, IPL side SunRisers Hyderabad also reached the 2024 edition's final.

Out from Champions Trophy with injury, Aussie skipper Pat Cummins eyes IPL comeback

After Australia pacer Pat Cummins, former England skippers Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton are crying foul over India playing all its matches in Dubai, UAE. All other teams, including those in Group A, have to play their matches across three venues in Pakistan except against India. The former English skippers have called it an 'undeniable advantage.'
"What about the advantage India have in playing in Dubai, only in Dubai? Which seems to me to be a hard-to-quantify advantage, but an undeniable advantage,&rdquo; said Atherton in conversation with Hussain on Sky Sports Podcast.
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-akram-calls-for-sacking-of-these-players-after-pakistan-horror-tournament-8754782">Akram calls for sacking of THESE players after Pakistan's horror tournament</a>
&ldquo;They&rsquo;re playing at just one venue. They don&rsquo;t have to travel either between venues or, you know, between countries, as a lot of other teams have to do.
&ldquo;Therefore, the selection, you know, can focus on the conditions in Dubai. And obviously, they&rsquo;ll know where they&rsquo;re playing their semi-final as and when they get through to that. That seems to me to be an undeniable advantage, but, you know, kind of hard to quantify how big an advantage,&rdquo; Atherton added.
Concurring with him, Hussain added: &ldquo;It is an advantage. So, the best team in the tournament have that advantage. And I saw a tweet the other day saying &lsquo;Pakistan host nation, India home advantage.&rsquo; It sums it up really. They are at one place, one hotel, they don&rsquo;t have to travel. They have one dressing room. They know the pitch, they have picked for that pitch."
After the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided not to send the Indian team to Pakistan due to political tensions between the two countries, the ICC, PCB and BCCI agreed to host India's matches in Dubai.
As per the arrangement, India will not only play their group matches in Dubai but the semi-final (Mar 4) and final (Mar 9) as well. In case India fail to make it to the final, the title showdown will be played in Lahore, Pakistan.

Champions Trophy: India will not only play its group matches in Dubai but the semi-final (Mar 4) and final (Mar 9) as well. In case India fail to make it to the final, it will be played in Lahore. Cricket Sports

After Australia pacer Pat Cummins, former England skippers Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton are crying foul over India playing all its matches in Dubai, UAE. All other teams, including those in Group A, have to play their matches across three venues in Pakistan except against India. The former English skippers have called it an 'undeniable advantage.' "What about the advantage India have in playing in Dubai, only in Dubai? Which seems to me to be a hard-to-quantify advantage, but an undeniable advantage,” said Atherton in conversation with Hussain on Sky Sports Podcast. Also Read: Akram calls for sacking of THESE players after Pakistan's horror tournament “They’re playing at just one venue. They don’t have to travel either between venues or, you know, between countries, as a lot of other teams have to do. “Therefore, the selection, you know, can focus on the conditions in Dubai. And obviously, they’ll know where they’re playing their semi-final as and when they get through to that. That seems to me to be an undeniable advantage, but, you know, kind of hard to quantify how big an advantage,” Atherton added. Concurring with him, Hussain added: “It is an advantage. So, the best team in the tournament have that advantage. And I saw a tweet the other day saying ‘Pakistan host nation, India home advantage.’ It sums it up really. They are at one place, one hotel, they don’t have to travel. They have one dressing room. They know the pitch, they have picked for that pitch." After the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided not to send the Indian team to Pakistan due to political tensions between the two countries, the ICC, PCB and BCCI agreed to host India's matches in Dubai. As per the arrangement, India will not only play their group matches in Dubai but the semi-final (Mar 4) and final (Mar 9) as well. In case India fail to make it to the final, the title showdown will be played in Lahore, Pakistan.

Champions Trophy: After Cummins, ex-England skippers cry foul over India playing matches in Dubai

Australia&rsquo;s World Cup-winning captain Pat Cummins has accused the ICC of favouring India in the ongoing <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy" rel="dofollow">ICC Champions Trophy 2025</a>. The BCCI denied sending its team to Pakistan for the eight-team tournament due to security concerns, forcing the ICC and the host board PCB to seek and choose alternatives, the hybrid model in this case. The PCB denied accepting it in the first place but later accepted it after several discussions. Dubai was finalised as India&rsquo;s venue for the Champions Trophy.
While the remaining seven teams, including Pakistan, are scheduled to travel between three cities&mdash;Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi (CT venues in the country), India would play all its matches in Dubai, including the semis and the final, should they qualify.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/no-sponsors-no-fans-pakistan-crickets-brand-value-to-take-a-hit-after-failed-champions-trophy-run-report-8753280" rel="dofollow">Pakistan Cricket&rsquo;s brand value to take a hit after failed Champions Trophy run &ndash; Report</a>
Placed in Group A, along with the hosts, Bangladesh and New Zealand, India played two games thus far, against Bangladesh and Pakistan, winning both. While Pakistan lost the curtain raiser to New Zealand at the National Stadium in Karachi, they flew to the Gulf to face India in the marquee clash.
While the remaining teams are travelling, adjusting to the new playing conditions and training at different venues for their respective league matches, it&rsquo;s different for India as they are staying in one hotel, training at one ground, and playing their matches at a single venue, something Cummins feels falls into their advantage.
&ldquo;I think it's good that the tournament can go on, but, obviously, it does give them (India) a huge advantage playing on the same ground. They already look very strong, and they've got that obvious benefit of playing all their games there,&rdquo; Cummins said while chatting with Yahoo Sports Australia, as quoted by Hindustan Times.
<h2>India on top!</h2>
The Men in Blue won their tournament opener against Bangladesh by six wickets, with opener Shubman Gill and seamer Mohammed Shami making headlines for star performances.&nbsp;
Against Pakistan in their next and perhaps the most crucial clash of the tournament, India made light work of their arch-rivals by first restricting them to 241 in the first innings before chasing the target with five wickets remaining.&nbsp;
For the Men in Blue, ace batter Virat Kohli returned to form at the right time, scoring his 51st ODI hundred&mdash;the most by any batter in history&mdash;while also completing his <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-2025-virat-kohli-surpasses-sachin-tendulkar-to-become-fastest-to-score-14000-odi-runs-8749884" rel="dofollow">14,000 runs in the format in 287 innings</a>&mdash; the&nbsp;quickest among all three batters to reach this mark.&nbsp;
Meanwhile, after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/host-defending-champions-pakistan-out-of-champions-trophy-after-new-zealand-beat-bangladesh-in-rawalpindi-8753319" rel="dofollow">New Zealand crushed Bangladesh by five wickets</a> in Rawalpindi on Monday (Feb 24), they qualified for the semis, and so did India, with the hosts and the defending champions Pakistan getting eliminated just six days into the tournament.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

Cricket, Sports: Thanks to a five-wicket win over Bangladesh in Rawalpindi, New Zealand qualified for the Champions Trophy semis, with India joining them in the final four.

Australia’s World Cup-winning captain Pat Cummins has accused the ICC of favouring India in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The BCCI denied sending its team to Pakistan for the eight-team tournament due to security concerns, forcing the ICC and the host board PCB to seek and choose alternatives, the hybrid model in this case. The PCB denied accepting it in the first place but later accepted it after several discussions. Dubai was finalised as India’s venue for the Champions Trophy. While the remaining seven teams, including Pakistan, are scheduled to travel between three cities—Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi (CT venues in the country), India would play all its matches in Dubai, including the semis and the final, should they qualify. Also read | Pakistan Cricket’s brand value to take a hit after failed Champions Trophy run – Report Placed in Group A, along with the hosts, Bangladesh and New Zealand, India played two games thus far, against Bangladesh and Pakistan, winning both. While Pakistan lost the curtain raiser to New Zealand at the National Stadium in Karachi, they flew to the Gulf to face India in the marquee clash. While the remaining teams are travelling, adjusting to the new playing conditions and training at different venues for their respective league matches, it’s different for India as they are staying in one hotel, training at one ground, and playing their matches at a single venue, something Cummins feels falls into their advantage. “I think it's good that the tournament can go on, but, obviously, it does give them (India) a huge advantage playing on the same ground. They already look very strong, and they've got that obvious benefit of playing all their games there,” Cummins said while chatting with Yahoo Sports Australia, as quoted by Hindustan Times. India on top! The Men in Blue won their tournament opener against Bangladesh by six wickets, with opener Shubman Gill and seamer Mohammed Shami making headlines for star performances. Against Pakistan in their next and perhaps the most crucial clash of the tournament, India made light work of their arch-rivals by first restricting them to 241 in the first innings before chasing the target with five wickets remaining. For the Men in Blue, ace batter Virat Kohli returned to form at the right time, scoring his 51st ODI hundred—the most by any batter in history—while also completing his 14,000 runs in the format in 287 innings— the quickest among all three batters to reach this mark. Meanwhile, after New Zealand crushed Bangladesh by five wickets in Rawalpindi on Monday (Feb 24), they qualified for the semis, and so did India, with the hosts and the defending champions Pakistan getting eliminated just six days into the tournament. (With inputs from agencies)

Cummins accuses ICC of favouring India in Champions Trophy, says ‘they have a huge advantage…’

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The 2025 ICC <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy">Champions Trophy</a> is on the horizon, yet the cricketing world is abuzz with concerns over the alarming number of player withdrawals due to injuries. Notable absentees who would have played pivotal roles for their respective teams include India&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/jasprit-bumrah">Jasprit </a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/jasprit-bumrah">Bumrah</a>, Australia&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/pat-cummins">Pat Cummins</a>, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood, and South Africa&rsquo;s Anrich Nortje, among others. 
This spate of injuries raises a pressing question: Is the relentless cricketing calendar, amplified by&nbsp;numerous international fixtures and burgeoning franchise leagues, overburdening players and compromising their well-being?&nbsp;
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/swot-analysis-champions-trophy-2025-can-blackcaps-end-their-25-year-title-drought-8727803">SWOT Analysis: Champions Trophy 2025-Can Blackcaps end their 25-year title drought?</a> Over the past decade, cricket has&nbsp;witnessed an explosion of franchise-based T20 leagues worldwide. The Indian Premier League (IPL) set the precedent back in 2007, inspiring similar tournaments like Australia&rsquo;s Big Bash League (BBL), the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), and The Hundred in England, among others. These leagues offer lucrative contracts to top talent. However, the overlapping schedules of these tournaments with international commitments have led to a congested calendar, leaving players with minimal downtime.&nbsp;
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<h2 class="Paragraph SCXW146314325 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraid="199079560" paraeid="{f4207fff-6803-4592-af43-7ef6873de9db}{53}">Physical toll on players&nbsp;</h2>
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Fast bowlers, in particular, bear the brunt of this demanding schedule. As per a study done on the topic, &lsquo;To determine if the comparison of acute and chronic workload is associated with increased injury risk in elite cricket fast bowlers&rsquo;, by Billy T Hulin, Tim J Gabbett, Peter Blanch, Paul Chapman, David Bailey, John W Orchard, it was observed that significant increases in acute workload are associated with a heightened risk of injury among elite fast bowlers. The repetitive high intensity demands, coupled with insufficient recovery periods, predispose them to stress fractures, muscle tears, and other debilitating injuries. 
For instance, Australia's Mitchell Starc has previously grappled with injuries exacerbated by continuous play, leading to decisions about prioritising rest over participation in certain series.&nbsp;
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<h2 class="Paragraph SCXW146314325 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraid="653434884" paraeid="{f4207fff-6803-4592-af43-7ef6873de9db}{85}">Mental fatigue&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>
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Beyond the physical ramifications, the relentless schedule contributes to mental fatigue as well. Players are often confined to bio-secure bubbles, isolated from family and friends, which can lead to feelings of burnout and disillusionment. For example, England&rsquo;s Tom Banton&nbsp;candidly discussed in an interview how the pressures of constant competition and life within these bubbles led him to fall out of love with the game, highlighting the psychological strain players endure.&nbsp;
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<h2 class="Paragraph SCXW146314325 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraid="680794758" paraeid="{f4207fff-6803-4592-af43-7ef6873de9db}{133}">Impact on major tournaments&nbsp;</h2>
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The timing of injuries often means that players are sidelined during&nbsp;important&nbsp; tournaments. The absence of key players not only minimises the quality of the competition but also affects team strategies. The 2025 Champions Trophy serves as a stark example, with several marquee players missing due to injuries likely linked to their exhaustive playing schedules.<span class="EOP SCXW146314325 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}">&nbsp;
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While franchise leagues have revolutionised cricket by providing financial incentives and expanding the sport&rsquo;s global reach, they also present challenges in balancing commercial interests with players' health.
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<h2 class="Paragraph SCXW146314325 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraid="1241588223" paraeid="{4a105ddd-edf5-439b-b3b6-f59edc998088}{235}">What can be done?<span class="EOP SCXW146314325 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:1,&quot;335551620&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:0,&quot;335559737&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:279}">&nbsp;</h2>
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To mitigate the adverse effects of an overcrowded cricket calendar, several measures can be taken into action:&nbsp;
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<ul>
<li class="Paragraph SCXW146314325 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraid="560644624" paraeid="{f4207fff-6803-4592-af43-7ef6873de9db}{229}">Strategic scheduling: Cricket boards and league organisers must collaborate to create a cohesive schedule that allows players adequate rest between series and tournaments. </li>
<li class="Paragraph SCXW146314325 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraid="560644624" paraeid="{f4207fff-6803-4592-af43-7ef6873de9db}{229}">Workload&nbsp;management: Implementing rotation policies can help manage player workloads, especially for fast bowlers who are more susceptible to injuries. </li>
<li class="Paragraph SCXW146314325 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraid="560644624" paraeid="{f4207fff-6803-4592-af43-7ef6873de9db}{229}">Player&nbsp;education: Educating players on the importance of rest and recovery can empower them to make informed decisions about their participation in various leagues and series.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
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At the&nbsp;end of the day,&nbsp;while the expansion of cricket through various leagues has enriched the sport, it is necessary to address the unintended consequence of player overexertion. Ensuring a balance between the game&rsquo;s commercial growth and the health of its players is important for the longevity and integrity of cricket.
Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.&nbsp;
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Cricket | Opinions & Blogs: Is relentless cricketing calendar, amplified by several international fixtures and franchise leagues, overburdening players and compromising their well-being?

The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is on the horizon, yet the cricketing world is abuzz with concerns over the alarming number of player withdrawals due to injuries. Notable absentees who would have played pivotal roles for their respective teams include India’s Jasprit Bumrah, Australia’s Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood, and South Africa’s Anrich Nortje, among others. This spate of injuries raises a pressing question: Is the relentless cricketing calendar, amplified by numerous international fixtures and burgeoning franchise leagues, overburdening players and compromising their well-being? Also Read: SWOT Analysis: Champions Trophy 2025-Can Blackcaps end their 25-year title drought? Over the past decade, cricket has witnessed an explosion of franchise-based T20 leagues worldwide. The Indian Premier League (IPL) set the precedent back in 2007, inspiring similar tournaments like Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL), the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), and The Hundred in England, among others. These leagues offer lucrative contracts to top talent. However, the overlapping schedules of these tournaments with international commitments have led to a congested calendar, leaving players with minimal downtime. Physical toll on players Fast bowlers, in particular, bear the brunt of this demanding schedule. As per a study done on the topic, ‘To determine if the comparison of acute and chronic workload is associated with increased injury risk in elite cricket fast bowlers’, by Billy T Hulin, Tim J Gabbett, Peter Blanch, Paul Chapman, David Bailey, John W Orchard, it was observed that significant increases in acute workload are associated with a heightened risk of injury among elite fast bowlers. The repetitive high intensity demands, coupled with insufficient recovery periods, predispose them to stress fractures, muscle tears, and other debilitating injuries. For instance, Australia's Mitchell Starc has previously grappled with injuries exacerbated by continuous play, leading to decisions about prioritising rest over participation in certain series. Mental fatigue Beyond the physical ramifications, the relentless schedule contributes to mental fatigue as well. Players are often confined to bio-secure bubbles, isolated from family and friends, which can lead to feelings of burnout and disillusionment. For example, England’s Tom Banton candidly discussed in an interview how the pressures of constant competition and life within these bubbles led him to fall out of love with the game, highlighting the psychological strain players endure. Impact on major tournaments The timing of injuries often means that players are sidelined during important tournaments. The absence of key players not only minimises the quality of the competition but also affects team strategies. The 2025 Champions Trophy serves as a stark example, with several marquee players missing due to injuries likely linked to their exhaustive playing schedules. While franchise leagues have revolutionised cricket by providing financial incentives and expanding the sport’s global reach, they also present challenges in balancing commercial interests with players' health. What can be done? To mitigate the adverse effects of an overcrowded cricket calendar, several measures can be taken into action: Strategic scheduling: Cricket boards and league organisers must collaborate to create a cohesive schedule that allows players adequate rest between series and tournaments. Workload management: Implementing rotation policies can help manage player workloads, especially for fast bowlers who are more susceptible to injuries. Player education: Educating players on the importance of rest and recovery can empower them to make informed decisions about their participation in various leagues and series. At the end of the day, while the expansion of cricket through various leagues has enriched the sport, it is necessary to address the unintended consequence of player overexertion. Ensuring a balance between the game’s commercial growth and the health of its players is important for the longevity and integrity of cricket. Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.

The price of non-stop cricket: Injuries and exhaustion

The ICC <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy">Champions Trophy</a> is set to begin in eight days and the teams were expected to submit their final squad on Tuesday (Feb 11). Leading to the tournament, some of the marquee players have become unavailable or are doubtful due to injuries. The injuries could add to the woes of the teams for the tournament which will witness cut-throat competition and is being played under comparatively harsh conditions of the sub-continent.
<h2>Here's the list of all the players ruled out or doubtful for Champions Trophy 2025</h2>
Jasprit Bumrah (India)
The premier Indian pacer suffered a back injury in early January during the Sydney Test against Australia.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/jasprit-bumrah">Bumrah</a> hasn't played any cricket since then, but was included in India's provisional 15-man squad. He was ruled out of the tournament on Feb 11 as confirmed by the BCCI. Harshit Rana has been named his replacement.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/2025-champions-trophy-former-pacer-zaheer-says-excess-flexibility-could-come-back-to-hurt-india-8710066">Former pacer Zaheer says 'excess flexibility could come back to hurt' India</a>
Pat Cummins (Australia)
The Australian skipper and pacer has been ruled out due to an ankle injury. This is a double blow for Australia - the ODI World Cup 2023 winners and one of the major title contenders. With&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/pat-cummins">Cummins</a> being out, Australia not only lost a pacer but their captain as well.
Josh Hazlewood (Australia)
Another Kangaroo pacer has been ruled out of the ICC tournament. Hazlewood, who also last played in India Tests, is out with a hip injury. With both Hazlewood and Cummins not playing, Australia have a headache when it comes to their bowling attack.
Lockie Ferguson (New Zealand)
The express Kiwi pacer is doubtful for the Champions Trophy because of a hamstring injury. The Kiwis will be monitoring him closely given his experience and pace on the sub-continent pitches, thanks to the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Mitchell Starc (Australia)
The third Aussie pacer out of the Champions Trophy. Starc, however, is not injured but has withdrawn from the Champions Trophy due to personal reasons.
Harris Rauf (Pakistan)
The Pakistan pacer is suffering from a side strain and is currently doubtful for the Champions Trophy. He's one of the express pacers Pakistan have who can hurry the batters even on dead pitches. His absence could hit Pakistan's chances of defending their title.
Anrich Nortje (South Africa)
The fast bowler has been ruled out of the ICC tournament with a back injury. His experience in the sub-continent, which he gained playing the IPL, would have been handy for the Proteas who are still chasing their first ICC title.
Gerald Coetzee (South Africa)
Another South African pacer ruled out of the Champions Trophy. He shot to fame with his brilliant bowling in the 2023 ODI World Cup but a groin injury means he won't be filling the void made by Nortje.
Jacob Bethell (England)
The England all-rounder suffered a hamstring injury during the first ODI against India in Nagpur on February 6, giving England's plans a jolt during crunch time.

2025 Champions Trophy: Bumrah (India), Cummins and Hazlewood (Australia), Nortje and Coetzee (South Africa) are some of the major players doubtful or ruled out. Cricket Sports

The ICC Champions Trophy is set to begin in eight days and the teams were expected to submit their final squad on Tuesday (Feb 11). Leading to the tournament, some of the marquee players have become unavailable or are doubtful due to injuries. The injuries could add to the woes of the teams for the tournament which will witness cut-throat competition and is being played under comparatively harsh conditions of the sub-continent. Here's the list of all the players ruled out or doubtful for Champions Trophy 2025 Jasprit Bumrah (India) The premier Indian pacer suffered a back injury in early January during the Sydney Test against Australia. Bumrah hasn't played any cricket since then, but was included in India's provisional 15-man squad. He was ruled out of the tournament on Feb 11 as confirmed by the BCCI. Harshit Rana has been named his replacement. Also Read: Former pacer Zaheer says 'excess flexibility could come back to hurt' India Pat Cummins (Australia) The Australian skipper and pacer has been ruled out due to an ankle injury. This is a double blow for Australia - the ODI World Cup 2023 winners and one of the major title contenders. With Cummins being out, Australia not only lost a pacer but their captain as well. Josh Hazlewood (Australia) Another Kangaroo pacer has been ruled out of the ICC tournament. Hazlewood, who also last played in India Tests, is out with a hip injury. With both Hazlewood and Cummins not playing, Australia have a headache when it comes to their bowling attack. Lockie Ferguson (New Zealand) The express Kiwi pacer is doubtful for the Champions Trophy because of a hamstring injury. The Kiwis will be monitoring him closely given his experience and pace on the sub-continent pitches, thanks to the Indian Premier League (IPL). Mitchell Starc (Australia) The third Aussie pacer out of the Champions Trophy. Starc, however, is not injured but has withdrawn from the Champions Trophy due to personal reasons. Harris Rauf (Pakistan) The Pakistan pacer is suffering from a side strain and is currently doubtful for the Champions Trophy. He's one of the express pacers Pakistan have who can hurry the batters even on dead pitches. His absence could hit Pakistan's chances of defending their title. Anrich Nortje (South Africa) The fast bowler has been ruled out of the ICC tournament with a back injury. His experience in the sub-continent, which he gained playing the IPL, would have been handy for the Proteas who are still chasing their first ICC title. Gerald Coetzee (South Africa) Another South African pacer ruled out of the Champions Trophy. He shot to fame with his brilliant bowling in the 2023 ODI World Cup but a groin injury means he won't be filling the void made by Nortje. Jacob Bethell (England) The England all-rounder suffered a hamstring injury during the first ODI against India in Nagpur on February 6, giving England's plans a jolt during crunch time.

2025 Champions Trophy: List of players doubtful for or ruled out of tournament - Updated

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<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/australia-cricket">Australia cricket team</a> captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/pat-cummins">Pat Cummins</a> and his wife Becky have been blessed with a baby girl. They have named her Edi and she is the couple's second child.
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&ldquo;She&rsquo;s here. Our beautiful baby girl, Edi &hellip; Words can&rsquo;t describe how overjoyed &amp; full of love we feel right now," Becky Cummins shared on her Instagram account.
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Notably, Cummins had taken paternity leave for the birth of Edi and as a result, is not leading the Kangaroos during the ongoing Sri Lanka series. The Australia skipper has been vocal about the need to prioritise family time along with cricket.&nbsp;
Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/rohan-jaitley-frontrunner-for-bccis-joint-secretary-post-sgm-on-march-1-8701050">Rohan Jaitley frontrunner for BCCI's Joint Secretary post, SGM on March 1</a> Speaking in October, Cummins had said, &ldquo;I missed a big chunk [of son Albie&rsquo;s early days] last time and I want to work out how we can spend a bit more time at home for that initial period this time around,&rdquo;&nbsp;
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&ldquo;Within reason, no one is ever going to bat an eyelid if someone needs to put their family first&hellip;We&rsquo;re playing cricket, it&rsquo;s not the end of the world, so we want people to have long, successful careers for Australia, and you can&rsquo;t just ask them to put their life on hold to go tour the world and forget about everything else. We&rsquo;re pretty open when it comes to family," the Australian captain added.&nbsp;
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<h2 class="Paragraph SCXW212687527 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraid="1869724648" paraeid="{44ba0ef2-98ed-4501-9878-517f0680cdec}{147}">Cummins out of Champions Trophy 2025&nbsp;</h2>
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Pat Cummins is yet to recover from the ankle niggle that frustrated him during the end of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India which has led him to being ruled out of the upcoming <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/champions-trophy">Champions Trophy</a> starting next month.&nbsp;
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"Unfortunately Pat, Josh and Mitch are managing some ongoing injuries and haven't come up in time for the Champions Trophy," national selection panel chairman George Bailey announced earlier this week.&nbsp;
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The absence of Pat Cummins and Mitchell Marsh will open the doors for Sean Abbott and Spencer Johnson, both of whom were not included in the tour of Sri Lanka. Post the two-match Test series, Australia will play a one-off ODI before flying to Pakistan for the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/icc">ICC</a> Champions Trophy 2025.&nbsp;
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(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, Cricket: Pat Cummins and his wife Becky welcomed their second child, a baby girl named Edi. Cummins is currently on paternity leave, prioritizing family time

Australia cricket team captain Pat Cummins and his wife Becky have been blessed with a baby girl. They have named her Edi and she is the couple's second child. “She’s here. Our beautiful baby girl, Edi … Words can’t describe how overjoyed & full of love we feel right now," Becky Cummins shared on her Instagram account. Notably, Cummins had taken paternity leave for the birth of Edi and as a result, is not leading the Kangaroos during the ongoing Sri Lanka series. The Australia skipper has been vocal about the need to prioritise family time along with cricket. Also Read: Rohan Jaitley frontrunner for BCCI's Joint Secretary post, SGM on March 1 Speaking in October, Cummins had said, “I missed a big chunk [of son Albie’s early days] last time and I want to work out how we can spend a bit more time at home for that initial period this time around,” “Within reason, no one is ever going to bat an eyelid if someone needs to put their family first…We’re playing cricket, it’s not the end of the world, so we want people to have long, successful careers for Australia, and you can’t just ask them to put their life on hold to go tour the world and forget about everything else. We’re pretty open when it comes to family," the Australian captain added. Cummins out of Champions Trophy 2025 Pat Cummins is yet to recover from the ankle niggle that frustrated him during the end of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India which has led him to being ruled out of the upcoming Champions Trophy starting next month. "Unfortunately Pat, Josh and Mitch are managing some ongoing injuries and haven't come up in time for the Champions Trophy," national selection panel chairman George Bailey announced earlier this week. The absence of Pat Cummins and Mitchell Marsh will open the doors for Sean Abbott and Spencer Johnson, both of whom were not included in the tour of Sri Lanka. Post the two-match Test series, Australia will play a one-off ODI before flying to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. (With inputs from agencies)

Champions Trophy 2025: Injured Australia skipper Pat Cummins welcomes second child

Australia received a major blow preparing for the Champions Trophy 2025 after captain Pat Cummins and star bowler Josh Hazlewood got ruled out on Thursday (Feb 6). Cummins, who led Australia to World Test Championship (WTC) and ODI World Cup glory in 2023, is ruled out due to an ankle issue. The news was confirmed by national team selector George Bailey on Thursday as the 2009 champions prepare for the latest challenge.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Cummins, Hazlewood ruled out of Champions Trophy<o:p></o:p></h2>
"Unfortunately Pat, Josh and Mitch are managing some ongoing injuries and haven&rsquo;t come up in time for the Champion&rsquo;s Trophy," national selection panel chair George Bailey said today.<o:p></o:p>
"While disappointing, it does present a great opportunity for other players to perform for Australia in a world event."<o:p></o:p>
Cummins was on paternity leave ahead of the Sri Lanka tour and was due to return for the Champions Trophy, however, he now will sit on the sidelines for the tournament in Pakistan and UAE. Hazlewood will also sit out of the Champions Trophy, weakening Australia's pace bowling unit. Both were part of Australia&rsquo;s ODI World Cup winning squad in 2023 and were considered pivotal for the nation&rsquo;s success.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p>
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-2025-explained-why-there-is-no-india-umpire-and-match-referee-in-icc-list-8695378" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Champions Trophy 2025: Explained - Why there's no India umpire and match referee in ICC's list</a> 
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Travis Head to lead Australia?<o:p></o:p></h2>
With Cummins out, the captaincy armband could be given to Steve Smith or Travis with the latter considered a favourite. Head is likely the first-choice of the selectors while Steve Smith&rsquo;s experience will come in handy having previously served in the captaincy role. Smith was Cummins deputy in the Sri Lanka tour while Head has made his mark with the bat in recent years.<o:p></o:p>
Australia will start their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign against arch-rivals England on February 22 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The former champions will then face South Africa on February 25 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi before returning to Lahore for final group game against Afghanistan on February 28.<o:p></o:p>

Sports, Cricket: Pat Cummins, who led Australia to World Test Championship (WTC) and ODI World Cup glory in 2023, is ruled out due to an ankle issue from the Champions Trophy. 

Australia received a major blow preparing for the Champions Trophy 2025 after captain Pat Cummins and star bowler Josh Hazlewood got ruled out on Thursday (Feb 6). Cummins, who led Australia to World Test Championship (WTC) and ODI World Cup glory in 2023, is ruled out due to an ankle issue. The news was confirmed by national team selector George Bailey on Thursday as the 2009 champions prepare for the latest challenge. Cummins, Hazlewood ruled out of Champions Trophy "Unfortunately Pat, Josh and Mitch are managing some ongoing injuries and haven’t come up in time for the Champion’s Trophy," national selection panel chair George Bailey said today. "While disappointing, it does present a great opportunity for other players to perform for Australia in a world event." Cummins was on paternity leave ahead of the Sri Lanka tour and was due to return for the Champions Trophy, however, he now will sit on the sidelines for the tournament in Pakistan and UAE. Hazlewood will also sit out of the Champions Trophy, weakening Australia's pace bowling unit. Both were part of Australia’s ODI World Cup winning squad in 2023 and were considered pivotal for the nation’s success. ALSO READ | Champions Trophy 2025: Explained - Why there's no India umpire and match referee in ICC's list Travis Head to lead Australia? With Cummins out, the captaincy armband could be given to Steve Smith or Travis with the latter considered a favourite. Head is likely the first-choice of the selectors while Steve Smith’s experience will come in handy having previously served in the captaincy role. Smith was Cummins deputy in the Sri Lanka tour while Head has made his mark with the bat in recent years. Australia will start their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign against arch-rivals England on February 22 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The former champions will then face South Africa on February 25 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi before returning to Lahore for final group game against Afghanistan on February 28.

Champions Trophy 2025: Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood ruled out in major blow for Australia

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Ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Australian cricket captain <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/pat-cummins">Pat Cummins</a> humorously taunts Indian batting maestro <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/virat-kohli">Virat Kohli</a>. The clip&nbsp;showcases Cummins practicing sledging in front of a mirror, where he quips, "Hey Kohli, I've never seen you bat this slowly". This light-hearted jibe is a nod to Kohli's renowned aggressive batting style, suggesting that even a slight deceleration would be uncharacteristic of him.<span class="EOP SCXW61885456 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
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The video doesn't stop at Kohli; Cummins also playfully targets England's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/ben-stokes">Ben Stokes</a> and Ollie Pope, indicating his readiness to engage in on-field banter during the upcoming tournament. This promotional content has quickly gained traction on social media, with fans sharing and commenting on the Australian skipper's playful provocations.<span class="EOP SCXW61885456 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">&nbsp;
<span class="EOP SCXW61885456 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">Watch the video here:
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<a href="https://t.co/SWqd8z9d6s">pic.twitter.com/SWqd8z9d6s</a>
&mdash; media (@xmediatwit) <a href="https://twitter.com/xmediatwit/status/1886651264680763545?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 4, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<span class="EOP SCXW61885456 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-2025-hardik-pandya-recalls-his-most-iconic-champion-moments-8693031">Champions Trophy 2025: Hardik Pandya recalls his most iconic champion moments</a> 
<h2 class="Paragraph SCXW61885456 BCX0" lang="EN-US" paraid="220921724" paraeid="{4f5f622a-01b1-43c0-a87d-0204a14af81a}{137}"><span class="EOP SCXW61885456 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335551550&quot;:0,&quot;335551620&quot;:0,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}">Cummins unlikely to feature in CT?</h2>
Australia cricket team could be handed a major blow in their preparations for the Champions Trophy 2025 as skipper Pat Cummins could be unfit due to an ankle injury. Speaking on Wednesday (Feb 5), head coach Andrew McDonald insisted that Cummins is &ldquo;heavily unlikely to feature for Australia having missed the Sri Lanka tour as well. According to McDonald, Steve Smith and Travis Head are the leading contenders to lead the Aussies in absence of Cummins as they try to win their second CT title.
"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 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.&rdquo;<o:p></o:p>
Having skipped the Sri Lanka tour due to paternity leave and an ankle issue, Cummins could now miss the Champions Trophy in Pakistan. The Aussie skipper has been in brilliant form in recent weeks having led his nation to a Test series win over India and helping reach the World Test Championship (WTC) final. While he is yet to be officially ruled out, Cricket Australia (CA) is already looking at a captaincy alternative.
(With inputs from agencies)
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Cricket, Sports: The video doesn't stop at Kohli; Cummins also playfully targets Ben Stokes and Ollie Pope, indicating his readiness to engage in on-field banter during tournament.

Ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins humorously taunts Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli. The clip showcases Cummins practicing sledging in front of a mirror, where he quips, "Hey Kohli, I've never seen you bat this slowly". This light-hearted jibe is a nod to Kohli's renowned aggressive batting style, suggesting that even a slight deceleration would be uncharacteristic of him. The video doesn't stop at Kohli; Cummins also playfully targets England's Ben Stokes and Ollie Pope, indicating his readiness to engage in on-field banter during the upcoming tournament. This promotional content has quickly gained traction on social media, with fans sharing and commenting on the Australian skipper's playful provocations. Watch the video here: pic.twitter.com/SWqd8z9d6s — media (@xmediatwit) February 4, 2025 Also Read: Champions Trophy 2025: Hardik Pandya recalls his most iconic champion moments Cummins unlikely to feature in CT? Australia cricket team could be handed a major blow in their preparations for the Champions Trophy 2025 as skipper Pat Cummins could be unfit due to an ankle injury. Speaking on Wednesday (Feb 5), head coach Andrew McDonald insisted that Cummins is “heavily unlikely to feature for Australia having missed the Sri Lanka tour as well. According to McDonald, Steve Smith and Travis Head are the leading contenders to lead the Aussies in absence of Cummins as they try to win their second CT title. "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 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.” Having skipped the Sri Lanka tour due to paternity leave and an ankle issue, Cummins could now miss the Champions Trophy in Pakistan. The Aussie skipper has been in brilliant form in recent weeks having led his nation to a Test series win over India and helping reach the World Test Championship (WTC) final. While he is yet to be officially ruled out, Cricket Australia (CA) is already looking at a captaincy alternative. (With inputs from agencies)

Champions Trophy 2025: ‘Hey Kohli, I’ve never seen you bat this slowly’, Pat Cummins brutally roasts Virat- WATCH

Australia cricket team could be handed a major blow in their preparations for the Champions Trophy 2025 as skipper Pat Cummins could be unfit due to an ankle injury. Speaking on Wednesday (Feb 5), head coach Andrew McDonald insisted that Cummins is &ldquo;heavily unlikely to feature for Australia having missed the Sri Lanka tour as well. According to McDonald, Steve Smith and Travis Head are the leading contenders to lead the Aussies in absence of Cummins as they try to win their second CT title. <o:p></o:p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Cummins unlikely for Champions Trophy<o:p></o:p></h2>
"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 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.&rdquo;<o:p></o:p>
Having skipped the Sri Lanka tour due to paternity leave and an ankle issue, Cummins could now miss the Champions Trophy in Pakistan. The Aussie skipper has been in brilliant form in recent weeks having led his nation to a Test series win over India and helping reach the World Test Championship (WTC) final. While he is yet to be officially ruled out, Cricket Australia (CA) is already looking at a captaincy alternative.
ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/english-batters-will-fare-better-against-in-50-over-format-kevin-pietersen-8690821" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">English batters will fare better against... in 50-over format: Kevin Pietersen</a> 
Mitchell Marsh&rsquo;s poor run of form has seen him drop out of the team while Travis Head and Steve Smith emerge as potential options. Smith had previously served as Australia&rsquo;s full-time captain before the 2018 sandpaper gate scandal saw him vacate the post. However, despite this, Smith has led Australia in Cummins&rsquo; absence. <o:p></o:p>
Head on the other hand remains a clear favourite to take the captaincy role having thrived in recent months. He played a key role in Australia&rsquo;s 2023 World Test Championship (WTC) and ODI World Cup wins, scoring hundreds in both finals.<o:p></o:p>

Sports, Cricket: Australia cricket team could be handed a major blow in their preparations for the Champions Trophy 2025 as Pat Cummins could be unfit due to an ankle injury

Australia cricket team could be handed a major blow in their preparations for the Champions Trophy 2025 as skipper Pat Cummins could be unfit due to an ankle injury. Speaking on Wednesday (Feb 5), head coach Andrew McDonald insisted that Cummins is “heavily unlikely to feature for Australia having missed the Sri Lanka tour as well. According to McDonald, Steve Smith and Travis Head are the leading contenders to lead the Aussies in absence of Cummins as they try to win their second CT title. Cummins unlikely for Champions Trophy "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 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.” Having skipped the Sri Lanka tour due to paternity leave and an ankle issue, Cummins could now miss the Champions Trophy in Pakistan. The Aussie skipper has been in brilliant form in recent weeks having led his nation to a Test series win over India and helping reach the World Test Championship (WTC) final. While he is yet to be officially ruled out, Cricket Australia (CA) is already looking at a captaincy alternative. ALSO READ | English batters will fare better against... in 50-over format: Kevin Pietersen Mitchell Marsh’s poor run of form has seen him drop out of the team while Travis Head and Steve Smith emerge as potential options. Smith had previously served as Australia’s full-time captain before the 2018 sandpaper gate scandal saw him vacate the post. However, despite this, Smith has led Australia in Cummins’ absence. Head on the other hand remains a clear favourite to take the captaincy role having thrived in recent months. He played a key role in Australia’s 2023 World Test Championship (WTC) and ODI World Cup wins, scoring hundreds in both finals.

Champions Trophy 2025: Pat Cummins 'heavily unlikely' to feature; Travis Head, Steve Smith in captaincy race

Australia, the two-time Champions Trophy winners, announced their preliminary 15-man&nbsp; squad for the 2025 edition of the series on Monday (Jan 13), including two seasoned pacers, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, who recently suffered injuries.
The reigning world champions have named an all-rounder-heavy team for the first showpiece event of the year, with Matthew Short and Aaron Hardie earning their maiden call-up for an ICC tournament.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-m5ukmm8n-xpununb2-05h4kdnm">
Our preliminary squad for the 2025 <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ICC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChampionsTrophy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChampionsTrophy</a> is here 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/LK8T2wZwDr">pic.twitter.com/LK8T2wZwDr</a>
&mdash; Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) <a href="https://twitter.com/CricketAus/status/1878593842997575965?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2025</a></blockquote>
Fresh from winning the coveted BGT against India at home, Australia&rsquo;s next target is bagging the first ICC tournament of the year, where they will face England, Afghanistan and South Africa in the Group Stage, with Pakistan hosting their matches.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/ipl-2025-news-shreyas-iyer-news-punjab-kings-skipper-8613563" rel="dofollow">IPL 2025: Punjab Kings name Shreyas Iyer as new skipper</a>
A boost for the world champions is the return of their captain Cummins to the ODI side after previous reports suggested that he could miss the Champions Trophy 2025 due to an injury. Cummins will, however, miss the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, starting January 29, for the birth of his second child. Veteran batter Steve Smith will lead in his absence.
Meanwhile, most World Cup-winning players have retained their places, with Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh picked as openers. Marnus Labuschagne, Smith and Glenn Maxwell will play in the middle order, while Marcus Stoinis and two relatively newer faces in the ODIs &ndash; Hardie and Short &ndash; will take care of the lower-order duties.
Australia has named two glovemen - Alex Carey and first-choice Josh Inglis.
Cummins, Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc are part of the bowling department, with the right-arm seamer Nathan Ellis picked as a backup. Australia, however, has just named one specialist spinner in Adam Zampa.
"This is a balanced and experienced squad with the core having been involved in the previous one-day World Cup, the West Indies series, last year's successful tour of the UK and the more recent Pakistan home series," chief selector George Bailey said, as quoted by cricket.com.au.&nbsp;
"It offers a variety of options for touring management depending on the opposition and the conditions that may present in Pakistan,&rdquo; he added.
<h2>Australia squad for Champions Trophy 2025 -&nbsp;</h2>
Pat Cummins (captain), Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis and Adam Zampa
<h3>Australia&rsquo;s Group B Fixtures &ndash;</h3>
<ul>
<li>February 22: Australia v England, Lahore</li>
<li>February 25: Australia v South Africa, Rawalpindi</li>
<li>February 28: Afghanistan v Australia, Lahore</li>
</ul>
(With inputs from agencies)

Sports, cricket: Matthew Short and Aaron Hardie have earned their maiden call-ups for an ICC tournament as Australia pick an all-rounder-heavy squad for the Champions Trophy 2025. 

Australia, the two-time Champions Trophy winners, announced their preliminary 15-man squad for the 2025 edition of the series on Monday (Jan 13), including two seasoned pacers, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, who recently suffered injuries. The reigning world champions have named an all-rounder-heavy team for the first showpiece event of the year, with Matthew Short and Aaron Hardie earning their maiden call-up for an ICC tournament. Our preliminary squad for the 2025 @ICC #ChampionsTrophy is here 🔥 pic.twitter.com/LK8T2wZwDr — Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) January 13, 2025 Fresh from winning the coveted BGT against India at home, Australia’s next target is bagging the first ICC tournament of the year, where they will face England, Afghanistan and South Africa in the Group Stage, with Pakistan hosting their matches. Also read | IPL 2025: Punjab Kings name Shreyas Iyer as new skipper A boost for the world champions is the return of their captain Cummins to the ODI side after previous reports suggested that he could miss the Champions Trophy 2025 due to an injury. Cummins will, however, miss the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, starting January 29, for the birth of his second child. Veteran batter Steve Smith will lead in his absence. Meanwhile, most World Cup-winning players have retained their places, with Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh picked as openers. Marnus Labuschagne, Smith and Glenn Maxwell will play in the middle order, while Marcus Stoinis and two relatively newer faces in the ODIs – Hardie and Short – will take care of the lower-order duties. Australia has named two glovemen - Alex Carey and first-choice Josh Inglis. Cummins, Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc are part of the bowling department, with the right-arm seamer Nathan Ellis picked as a backup. Australia, however, has just named one specialist spinner in Adam Zampa. "This is a balanced and experienced squad with the core having been involved in the previous one-day World Cup, the West Indies series, last year's successful tour of the UK and the more recent Pakistan home series," chief selector George Bailey said, as quoted by cricket.com.au. "It offers a variety of options for touring management depending on the opposition and the conditions that may present in Pakistan,” he added. Australia squad for Champions Trophy 2025 - Pat Cummins (captain), Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis and Adam Zampa Australia’s Group B Fixtures – February 22: Australia v England, Lahore February 25: Australia v South Africa, Rawalpindi February 28: Afghanistan v Australia, Lahore (With inputs from agencies)

Australia include pace duo in preliminary Champions Trophy 2025 squad

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