Australian head coach Andrew McDonald has indicated that selectors are willing to back experience and match-winning quality, even if final fitness clarity is still some weeks away. Among the biggest talking points is the inclusion of captain Pat Cummins, who continues his recovery from a lumbar stress injury sustained in July.
Cummins missed the first two matches of the ongoing Ashes series before returning for the Adelaide Test, where he took six wickets to help Australia retain the Ashes urn. Following the third Test, he was withdrawn from the remainder of the series.
And now Cummins is scheduled to undergo another scan on his back in about four weeks, which will play a crucial role in determining whether he can take part in the World Cup.
"Pat will have a scan, I think, in another four weeks, so that'll give us the information then on where he's at for the World Cup. He'll be named in the squad of 15, and then we'll get that information as to where he's at," McDonald said at the press conference on Monday.
McDonald also gave an update on Josh Hazlewood, who has not been part of the ongoing Ashes due to injury setbacks.
"Josh is returning to bowl. He looks as though he should be right in terms of possible timeframes," he said.
Meanwhile, power hitter Tim David is also set to be named in the squad despite battling fitness concerns.
“He has had a hamstring injury; I’m not sure whether it’s just pure muscle or tendon,” McDonald said.
“We’re unaware as to what it is at the moment. We’ll have more information, and I dare say we’ll be able to put something out later today once we get that info. I think the time frame will be kind on TD, so he should be available no matter what that injury is," McDonald added.