Jake Fraser-McGurk dumped from Australian ODI squad for Champions Trophy, Pat Cummins included despite ankle issues

Pat Cummins’ ankle injury remains a mystery but what is less certain is the fate of the young gun trumpeted as the future and the next Glenn Maxwell.

Australian selection chief George Bailey has conceded captain Pat Cummins has been named for the Champions Trophy in February without any extra information on the ankle he injured during the Test series against India as batting dynamo Jake Fraser-McGurk paid the price for a horror run in the Big Bash and was axed.

Having been given a run at the top of the order in last November’s ODI series against Pakistan with limited success, Fraser McGurk has battled in the BBL, reduced to four single-figure scores and a best effort of just 26 in eight innings for the Melbourne Renegades.

Bailey said the axing was part of the “journey” for the 22-year-old, who faces a battle to regain his Australian place after Matt Short’s blistering BBL return, which included a century in his first game back from a broken toe for the Adelaide Strikers last weekend, and he looms as a long-term opening option for Australia after earning his place.

Jake Fraser-McGurk has been dumped from the Australian ODI squad. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

After revealing last week that Cummins had been sent for scans on his ankle following the final Test against India in Sydney, Bailey said the national captain had been given “space” and he wasn’t even aware of the results.

The World Cup Cup winning captain opted to miss Australia’s two-Test series against Sri Lanka to stay home for the birth of his second child, and that time off could be a blessing ahead of his team’s opening CT clash on February 22 against England.

Bailey said he was “confident” Cummins would be available, but the door was open for replacements should he need more time to rest.

“I don’t really have any more information than what I shared when we announced the Test squad a few days ago,” Bailey said on Monday.

“I believe he’s had the scan, but we want to give him a bit of space at the back-end of the Border Gavaskar Trophy and with his baby pending, we’ll work through that in good time.

“I have no idea what the scan said. We’ll work through that with Pat.”

Pat Cummins suffered ankle soreness after the final Test against India. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Mitch Marsh, who was dumped from the Test team, could return to the ODI side as captain in Cummins’ place having been picked in the in the 15-man preliminary squad.

Marcus Stoinis, who was recalled for last year’s Pakistan series after being axed from the ODI team in 2023, was also included among the all-rounders with Aaron Hardie, while Nathan Ellis was picked to help Cummins, Mitch Starc and Josh Hazlewood with the fast bowling duties.

Bailey said the squad provided a “variety of options” for the tournament.

“This is a balanced and experienced squad with the core having been involved in the previous one-day World Cup, the West Indies series, last year’s successful tour of the UK and the more recent Pakistan home series,” he said.

“It offers a variety of options for touring management depending on opposition and the conditions that may present in Pakistan.”

Our preliminary squad for the 2025 @ICC#ChampionsTrophy is here 🔥 pic.twitter.com/LK8T2wZwDr

— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) January 13, 2025

Selectors opted against picking a second spinner to help Adam Zampa, overlooking young leggie Tanveer Sangha, leaving Short, Travis Head and Glenn Maxwell to help with slow bowling duties.

AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONS TROPHY SQUAD

Pat Cummins, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short,

Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.