Australia's rising speedster Pat Cummins is reportedly set to miss the squad's World Cup tie against Afghanistan on Wednesday and Indian origin Gurindher Sandhu would loom as the man most likely for a shock call-up in the tournament should the injury-prone paceman's rib problem fails to improve this week.
Although Cummins' is minor, it is nonetheless the latest incident in Australia's campaign, which is quite not going as they would have wished for. Cummins' absence means Josh Hazlewood would reclaim his place for the next match against Afghanistan on Wednesday in Perth, and beyond that the make-up of the Australian attack remains uncertain.
Scans showed the strain in Cummins' side was not serious and the 21-year-old fast-bowling prodigy would be monitored during the week to determine if he'll be able to play in Sunday's clash against Sri Lanka in Sydney,News.com.au reported.
Currently there is no talk of a replacement player being called in, but Cummins' extensive injury history might call for concern and great caution, and the fact that it is a rib problem instead of a side strain might act as a major boost.
Hazlewood was dropped from the first-choice XI after failing to deliver in the opener against England, but no sooner had the Australian selectors given Cummins a shot, he's now unavailable to be picked.
Beating Sri Lanka at the SCG is crucial to ensuring Australia remain on the right side of the draw to host a potential semifinal, and by then selectors would be wanting to have settled on close to their best XI.
If Cummins can't prove his fitness for Sunday and a return date remains unclear, there's a possibility selectors might be forced to look for a replacement.
Test match-winner Ryan Harris is waiting in the background, but it appears highly unlikely selectors would go back on their decision to keep the veteran quick safe from World Cup strain leading into the Ashes. Harris hasn't played since the fourth Test and wouldn't be in the right condition.
Young New South Wales star Sandhu appears to be a clear candidate for Cummins' replacement and be the third quick to partner Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson in the attack, as all the other options including Harris seem likely impossible.
Sandhu has played in two one-day matches for Australia during January's tri-series.
James Faulkner said that the squad expected Cummins to pull through, adding that he know everyone's got little niggles, and insisted that he is sure Cummins would be fine.
Faulkner insisted that that is what the physiotherapists are there for, adding that they have got the best in Australia and he is sure they would be doing what they can to make sure Cummins is back as soon as possible.
