Australia faces massive double injury blow for Champions Trophy
The Aussies may have to find three new players to include in their 15-member squad for the upcoming tournament in Pakistan and UAE.
Australia's ICC Champions Trophy plans have been thrown into further disarray with news that skipper Pat Cummins and key seamer Josh Hazlewood are unlikely to travel to feature at the tournament.
The Aussies have already been dealt a blow with the loss of experienced all-rounder Mitch Marsh due to injury and the absence of Cummins and Hazlewood could further dent the side as they seek a third Champions Trophy title in the 50-over tournament that commences in Pakistan and Dubai on February 19.
WATCH: Cummins' dominant spell in 2023 World Cup Final against India
Australia's skipper, Pat Cummins, delivered an outstanding performance with figures of 3/34 in his 10-over spell in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 Final against India.
Andrew McDonald discussed the latest injury blow on Wednesday and the Australian coach revealed he may need a new skipper for the tournament given the likely absence of current ODI captain Cummins.
"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 Australian radio station 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.
"They're the two obvious ones. Steve has done a great job here in the (first) Test match (against Sri Lanka). He's done some good work in one-day international cricket across the journey as well. So it's between those two.
"But, as I said, Patty is hugely unlikely, which is a bit of shame, and we've also got Josh Hazlewood, who is battling (to be fit) at the moment. So that medical information will land over the next couple of days and we'll be able to shore that up and let everyone know the direction."
WATCH: Hazlewood in action at 2023 World Cup
Josh Hazlewood took India's fifth wicket.
Teams have until February 12 to submit their final squads of 15 to the ICC for the tournament and if Cummins and Hazlewood join Marsh on the sidelines then Australia will be on the lookout for three new players.
Australia great Ricky Ponting recently threw up uncapped all-rounder Mitch Owen for Marsh's vacant role when speaking on The ICC Review, while Sean Abbott and Spencer Johnson are other pace options which may be considered.
Ponting floats left-field name to replace Marsh at Champions Trophy
WATCH: Behind the scenes of Australia's World Cup success in 2023
The Cricket World Cup trophy was lifted for a record sixth time by Australia.
The Aussies are drawn in Group B at the Champions Trophy alongside Afghanistan, England and South Africa, ahead of a potential berth in the knockout stages of the eight-team tournament.
Australia will play two ODIs against Sri Lanka in Colombo prior to the Champions Trophy, with the majority of the squad expected to fly out to the island nation later this week.
Australia preliminary squad: Pat Cummins (c), Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa (squad yet to be finalised)