Sydney, Jan 3 (NationPress) The chairman of selectors for Australia, George Bailey, expressed optimism regarding the readiness of Hazlewood and Tim David for the upcoming World Cup, while also hoping that a scheduled scan for Pat Cummins at the end of January yields positive results after his workload during the Ashes.

Australia is willing to take a strategic risk concerning Pat Cummins’ availability for the imminent T20 World Cup, with selectors open to including the captain in the early matches of the tournament if it enhances his performance later on. This strategy reflects Australia’s management of Travis Head during the 2023 ODI World Cup, where their patience with an injury proved beneficial.

Cummins, alongside Josh Hazlewood and Tim David, has been listed in Australia’s provisional squad for the forthcoming tournament, pending their fitness levels. Cummins hasn't played since his sole appearance in the Ashes Test in Adelaide, as he continues to recover from a lumbar stress injury, while Hazlewood is recuperating from an Achilles injury. David, on the other hand, had to cut short his Big Bash League season due to a hamstring issue.

"I don't expect them (Hazlewood and Cummins) to be available for the Pakistan series (three T20Is in January), but I believe both will be ready for the World Cup," Bailey stated to the media at the SCG. "Patty might return a bit later; that could be akin to the situation with Travis Head in the previous 50-over World Cup, where we found an entry point eventually. Hopefully, we can manage and carry a squad until that time. I believe Hoff [Hazlewood] should be fit by the start, and I think Tim David should also be good to go by then."

Bailey noted that accommodating Cummins would necessitate flexibility, as Australia may have to navigate the early tournament stages without their captain. Australia’s opening matches against Ireland, Oman, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe will all take place in Sri Lanka, which might assist selectors in managing workloads and team combinations before reaching the Super Eights.

"You might find yourself in a situation where adjustments in the squad are unavoidable," Bailey said. "We were nearly in that position with Travis. However, the positive aspect is that in Colombo and Kandy, you might be able to configure the team in various effective ways."

Among those spin options are the left-armers Matt Kuhnemann and Cooper Connolly, who complement the established duo of Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell. Kuhnemann is still in pursuit of his first T20I wicket after four matches, while Connolly has taken one so far. Despite not playing in the recent T20I series against South Africa, New Zealand, and India, Connolly was selected after impressing for the Perth Scorchers in the BBL, where he has taken on significant batting and bowling responsibilities.

"Left-arm spin is a valuable skill over there, and it provides flexibility regarding batting positions," Bailey commented. "If you wish to incorporate that as a secondary spin option, it offers a different spin angle if you are utilizing your offspin options."

"He’s consistently improving. I believe his exposure to international cricket has been incredibly beneficial, and he has also gained experience in various roles. Each time he has had that exposure, it hasn’t always led to immediate success, but he learns well. I’m thrilled to see him getting the opportunity to bat higher in the order for the Scorchers while also bowling plenty of overs."

Bailey highlighted the contributions both Connolly and Kuhnemann can offer with the new ball, especially during the powerplay, an area where Australia has not typically relied on spin.

"This is an aspect we haven’t traditionally explored much," Bailey noted. "Both of those players possess that skill, allowing us to create space elsewhere to strategically position certain bowlers and maintain Zampa in his optimal role."

A notable exclusion from the squad is left-arm seamer Ben Dwarshuis, with Xavier Bartlett selected as the final fast-bowling choice. However, Bailey confirmed that Dwarshuis remains a strong candidate should Cummins or Hazlewood be unable to recover in time. With Mitchell Starc retired from T20 internationals and Spencer Johnson out due to injury, Dwarshuis has demonstrated variation and success in recent series against the West Indies and New Zealand.

"It’s a great variety, and it adds a different dimension, so any time you can incorporate that into your attack, it’s a beneficial point of differentiation," Bailey explained. "However, there must also be a high skill level accompanying it. It’s a balance we must maintain."

Bailey indicated that the team composition for the upcoming Pakistan T20I series, which serves as preparation for the World Cup, may also depend on player availability following the BBL finals.