Cricket

Pat Cummins Rested, Mitchell Starc to Miss T20s in Australia's UK TourAs part of a strategic workload management plan, Australia's ODI World Cup-winning captain Pat Cummins will be rested for the upcoming limited-overs tour to Britain. Mitchell Starc, another key bowler, will miss the Twenty20 phase of the tour.The tour, scheduled for September, will feature five one-day internationals against England and three Twenty20 matches against Scotland. Cummins' absence is part of a long-term strategy to manage his workload ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy, according to Cricket Australia.Mitchell Marsh, who captained Australia in the recent T20 World Cup, will lead the team on the tour. The selectors have opted to rest wicketkeeper Matthew Wade and veteran opener David Warner, with an eye towards the future.Young batter Jake Fraser-McGurk, who was a traveling reserve for the T20 World Cup, has been included in both the ODI and T20 squads. "This tour gives us a great opportunity to bring in some new players and give some senior players time to prepare for the home summer and a busy first half of next year," said George Bailey, Australia's selection chairman.Bailey emphasized the importance of integrating new players into the white-ball setup, including Fraser-McGurk, Spencer Johnson, Xavier Bartlett, and Aaron Hardie. "With the Champions Trophy next year, there has been a lot of planning invested into these next six months," he said.Despite not reaching the semifinals of the T20 World Cup, Australia remains the reigning World Cup champions in the 50-over format and the World Test Championship winners.

Pakistan's young fast bowler Naseem Shah has been denied a No Objection Certificate (NOC) by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to participate in The Hundred due to workload management concerns.Sources close to Geo News revealed that the PCB's decision was made as a precautionary measure after assessing Naseem's application. Despite being a regular member of Pakistan's team in all three formats, Naseem's injury history and fitness issues prompted the board to decline his request.In October 2023, Naseem underwent surgery to address a shoulder problem. The surgery ruled him out of the 2023 ICC World Cup, contributing to Pakistan's disappointing group-stage exit. Following the surgery, doctors advised Naseem to rest and recover for four to six weeks before returning to action. The injury is expected to keep him out for a minimum of three to four months.Pakistan has a busy schedule of important World Test Championship matches in the coming months. They will face Bangladesh in a two-match Test series starting on August 21. Pakistan's red-ball head coach, Jason Gillespie, has already hinted at the possibility of Shaheen Shah Afridi missing the series.Shaheen and his wife Ansha are expecting their first child, and he may miss the Test series against Bangladesh next month. "Shaheen can miss Bangladesh Test matches due to childbirth. We can give him [some] rest if he wants to stay with his wife till then," said Gillespie.In addition to red-ball cricket, Pakistan will also play limited-overs cricket against Australia in November. The PCB's decision to deny Naseem an NOC is aimed at protecting him from further injuries and ensuring his availability for these crucial matches.

Gautam Gambhir, the newly appointed head coach of the Indian cricket team, has sparked a debate with his candid views on workload and injury management. In a video released by Star Sports, Gambhir expressed his firm belief that players should play across all three formats if they are good enough and in form."I am a very strong believer in one thing, that if you are good, you should be playing all the three formats. I have never been a big believer of 'injury management'. You got injured, you go and recover. As simple as it gets. You are playing international cricket, and you are good enough - you ask any of the top players - they want to play all the three formats. They don't want to be labelled as red-ball bowlers or white-ball bowlers," Gambhir said.The former India opener emphasized that injuries are a natural part of a sportsman's life and should be dealt with by recovery rather than through preemptive management. "Injuries are part of sportsmen's life. And if you are playing all the three formats, you get injured, you go back and get recovered but you should be playing all the three formats. I am not a big believer to identify people that okay we are going to keep him for Test matches and we are going to keep him and we are going to manage his injury and workload and stuff," Gambhir elaborated.Gambhir's no-nonsense approach and emphasis on playing through all formats is expected to bring a new dynamic to the Indian cricket team as they gear up for their series against Sri Lanka. At 42, Gambhir is the youngest coach to lead Team India, and he underscored the importance of professional players making the most of their careers by playing as much as possible, given the limited span of their professional life."Look, professional cricketers, you got a very small span. When you are playing for your country you want to play as much as you can. When you are in very good form, go ahead and play all the three formats," Gambhir explained.

Scott Boland's debut for Durham has been marred by a resurfacing heel injury, casting doubt over his availability for the county's upcoming fixtures. The Australian fast bowler, who is on a short-term contract with Durham, bowled 13 wicketless overs in the first innings of their draw against Warwickshire but did not take the field after the first day.Boland's injury has been identified as plantar fasciitis, a common heel condition among fast bowlers. It is the same issue that delayed his arrival in England and caused him to miss Durham's first game. The club is awaiting further clarity on his fitness and is exploring potential replacements if he is ruled out for an extended period.Boland's contract with Durham runs until the end of July and covers both the County Championship and the T20 Blast. However, as a centrally contracted player with Cricket Australia (CA), his workload will be closely monitored. CA's medical staff will collaborate with Durham on Boland's recovery, aiming to maximize his playing time while managing his fitness.Boland's injury highlights the ongoing challenges faced by CA in managing the workload of its centrally contracted bowlers. Despite not playing a Test since last year's Ashes, Boland was rested at the start of the Sheffield Shield season in anticipation of rest periods for Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc during Australia's international commitments. However, the trio played all seven Shield matches, leaving Boland with a relatively quiet summer.CA's approach to managing its bowlers has also been evident in the cases of Xavier Bartlett and Nathan Lyon. Bartlett was withdrawn from a stint with Kent just before the start of the Championship, while Lyon's initial agreement to play a full season with Lancashire was reduced to seven red-ball matches following discussions with Australia's selectors.Meanwhile, Ben Stokes spent two days with the Durham squad during their draw at Edgbaston, continuing his recovery from knee surgery. The England all-rounder is gradually increasing his bowling workload as he aims to return to full fitness.

Cricket Australia's (CA) decision to limit Nathan Lyon's availability for Lancashire has sparked controversy and raised questions about the balance between international and domestic cricket.Lyon, Australia's premier off-spinner, was initially set to play in all formats for Lancashire during the 2024 County Championship season. However, CA has intervened, restricting him to only seven of the first nine Championship fixtures. This move is intended to manage Lyon's workload ahead of Australia's home Test series against India later this year.Lancashire's director of cricket, Mark Chilton, expressed disappointment but acknowledged the club's excitement about Lyon's partial availability. He emphasized Lyon's commitment to Lancashire and his potential to support the team's goals.The decision has raised concerns about the impact on Tom Hartley, a promising young off-spinner who could be affected by Lyon's presence. England coach Brendon McCullum has questioned the wisdom of blocking Hartley's development opportunities.Lancashire captain Keaton Jennings acknowledged the "really tough situation" but emphasized the potential benefits of Lyon's experience for Hartley. He believes Hartley can learn from Lyon and contribute significantly to Lancashire's success.Meanwhile, Lancashire is exploring options to secure a replacement overseas player for the T20 Blast and One-Day Cup. The club is actively engaged in discussions to find a suitable candidate.CA's decision highlights the ongoing tension between international and domestic cricket. While it is understandable that CA wants to prioritize Lyon's fitness and performance for the national team, it also raises questions about the impact on county cricket and the development of young players.