Cummins, Hazlewood return for Australia’s Champions Trophy bid

MELBOURNE: Pat Cummins returns for Australia´s ICC Champions Trophy campaign in Pakistan next month after skipping their Sri Lanka Test tour, with injured paceman Josh Hazlewood also in the squad announced Monday.

Opener Jake Fraser-McGurk was dumped, paying the price for his poor recent form after opening for Australia during their most-recent one-day series against Pakistan. "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," said chief selector George Bailey.

"It offers a variety of options for touring management depending on opposition and the conditions that may present in Pakistan." The eight-nation Champions Trophy, between February 19 and March 9, will be played in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.

Australia squad: Pat Cummins (capt), Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa