Australia sticks to unchanged squad as Pat Cummins still out of the running for second Ashes Test
The wait continues for England fans, with Australian captain Steve Smith opting to name an unchanged 14-man squad for the upcoming day-night second Test at the Gabba. This decision comes despite the fact that Pat Cummins, who has been held back due to a lower back stress injury, is still not available.
Cummins' return to training had sparked hope among fans that he would be ready to face England in Brisbane next week. However, Cricket Australia's latest update confirms that the 32-year-old will continue to travel with the squad without playing any part in the match. The reasons behind this delay remain unclear, with the team's medical staff keeping tight-lipped about Cummins' condition.
The absence of Cummins has led to some surprising omissions from the original list. Usman Khawaja, who was struggling with back spasms during the first Test, is now being left on the sidelines as Travis Head takes his place in the lineup. The 29-year-old had a stellar second innings in Perth, scoring an unbeaten century off just 69 balls.
The decision to leave Khawaja out of the XI has led to speculation about the long-term future of the 39-year-old at international level. If Head continues at the top of the order, it's likely that Josh Inglis or Beau Webster will be given a middle-order berth. This could mark the end of an era for Khawaja, who has been struggling with injuries and form in recent months.
On the other hand, Josh Hazlewood is still not ready to return from his hamstring strain. The 34-year-old was spotted training with Cummins in Sydney earlier this week but was nowhere near full pace.
Australia's unchanged squad looks to level the series as they face England at the Gabba next week. With Steve Smith leading the charge, the tourists will be eager to level the five-match series and retain the urn.
The wait continues for England fans, with Australian captain Steve Smith opting to name an unchanged 14-man squad for the upcoming day-night second Test at the Gabba. This decision comes despite the fact that Pat Cummins, who has been held back due to a lower back stress injury, is still not available.
Cummins' return to training had sparked hope among fans that he would be ready to face England in Brisbane next week. However, Cricket Australia's latest update confirms that the 32-year-old will continue to travel with the squad without playing any part in the match. The reasons behind this delay remain unclear, with the team's medical staff keeping tight-lipped about Cummins' condition.
The absence of Cummins has led to some surprising omissions from the original list. Usman Khawaja, who was struggling with back spasms during the first Test, is now being left on the sidelines as Travis Head takes his place in the lineup. The 29-year-old had a stellar second innings in Perth, scoring an unbeaten century off just 69 balls.
The decision to leave Khawaja out of the XI has led to speculation about the long-term future of the 39-year-old at international level. If Head continues at the top of the order, it's likely that Josh Inglis or Beau Webster will be given a middle-order berth. This could mark the end of an era for Khawaja, who has been struggling with injuries and form in recent months.
On the other hand, Josh Hazlewood is still not ready to return from his hamstring strain. The 34-year-old was spotted training with Cummins in Sydney earlier this week but was nowhere near full pace.
Australia's unchanged squad looks to level the series as they face England at the Gabba next week. With Steve Smith leading the charge, the tourists will be eager to level the five-match series and retain the urn.
. On one hand, it's understandable that Cricket Australia would want to give their players a break from injuries, especially with Pat Cummins still nursing a lower back stress injury 
. However, the omissions of Usman Khawaja and Josh Hazlewood are puzzling 
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. If Travis Head is to continue at the top of the order, it's likely that other players will be given more opportunities to shine 
. Meanwhile, Hazlewood's absence will surely be felt by the team's bowling attack 
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. The series is poised to be an intriguing one, with both teams eager to level the match 
.
. I mean, he's still only 39, that's not old for a cricketer! 
Maybe this is an opportunity for Head to prove himself & keep the spot? 
️. And btw, Usman Khawaja has been struggling for ages, maybe this is his chance to clear his name and show everyone he's still got it 
. One thing is for sure tho, the Aussies are gonna be fired up for the next match 
his back injury is really frustrating and it's like he's stuck in limbo still not sure when he'll be back on the pitch 
now they gotta figure out what to do with usman khawaja 
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And I'm a bit worried about Usman Khawaja, hope he gets back to his form soon... doesn't feel right leaving him out of the squad for good 
it shows he trusts his players and isn't gonna make unnecessary changes mid-series. but travis head's inclusion in the lineup is an interesting move 
. I'm still hoping he'll come back soon, but if not, maybe this squad will surprise everyone and show us what they're made of 
. And what about Josh Hazlewood? Hopefully, he'll make a comeback soon before it's too late 
️ "The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams." 
. Can't wait to see how the series unfolds 
so a bit surprised that Australia is keeping the same squad 
but you'd think he'd at least get to play in one test 
instead they're relying on Travis Head now and I'm not sure how well he'll hold up against England's top bowlers