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Pat Cummins returns for Australia’s ICC Champions Trophy campaign in Pakistan next month after skipping his Test tour to Sri Lanka, with injured pacer Josh Hazlewood also in the squad announced on Monday.
Australian captain Cummins has pulled out of the Sri Lanka series from the end of this month due to the birth of his second child. He would also have a knee injury.
Hazlewood was included in the two-time tournament winners’ preliminary 15-man squad after calf and side strains limited him to just two Tests against India over the summer.
On their return, opener Jake Fraser-McGurk was dropped, paying the price for his poor recent form after opening for Australia in their last one-day series against Pakistan.
“This is a balanced and experienced team whose core has been involved in the previous One-Day World Cup, the West Indies series, last year’s successful tour of the UK and in Pakistan’s most recent home series,” said chief selector George Bailey.
“It offers a variety of options for tour management depending on the opposition and conditions that may arise in Pakistan.”
The Champions Trophy, bringing together eight nations, will be played from February 19 to March 9 in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.
Australian team: 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, Adam Zampa
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