Injured Cummins, Smith, Starc and Maxwell in Australia's provisional squad, Abbott earns maiden World Cup call-up
The Hindu
Australia's provisional 15-member squad for the World Cup includes injured stars Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc and Glenn Maxwell, plus Sean Abbott's maiden call-up.
Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc and Glenn Maxwell were all included in Australia's 15-member provisional squad despite injuries while bowling all-rounder Sean Abbott earned his maiden World Cup call-up.
Cummins and Smith are nursing wrist injuries they picked up during the Ashes, while Starc and Maxwell are out with a groin problem and ankle issue respectively.
Of the quartet, only Cummins is in the ODI squad to face South Africa, starting September 7. However, his participation is also doubtful.
All four are in a race against time to get fit for the marquee event, staring in India on October 5.
"All are well placed to come back online in the coming weeks and potentially for selection in the upcoming series against India," selection chief George Bailey said.
"There are eight one-day matches still to play in South Africa and India before the final squad is due to be declared.
"They are followed by two World Cup practice games, which offers plenty of opportunity to continue the build for the tournament," he added.
Asian Games champion Avinash Sable opened his season in the 3000m steeple chase with a silver in the Portland Track Festival, a World Athletics Continental Tour bronze event, in Oregon on Saturday. He clocked 8:21.85s. Asian champion Parul Chaudhary took the bronze in the women’s 3000m steeple chase in a season-best 9:31.38s. Former Asian bronze medallist Sanjivani Jadhav struck gold in the women’s 10,000m in 32:22.77s, a time which was a second off her personal best, while Seema was sixth in 32:55.91s.