Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc at centre of worrying fallout after Ashes
Injury concerns hang over the Aussie pace duo ahead of an important set of limited-overs fixtures.
Australia's tumultuous Ashes series may have come at a cost, with captain Pat Cummins and fellow fast bowler Mitchell Starc both under injury clouds ahead of an important set of upcoming limited-overs fixtures. Cummins' men retained the Ashes but missed out on the chance to become the first Aussie side in 22 years to win a series on English soil after a dramatic collapse on the final day at The Oval.
The Aussies resumed the final day's play at 0-135 but lost three wickets in the opening session after a controversial ball change from England. Having needed 120 runs for victory with seven wickets in hand at one point, the tourists then lost 4-11 in the space of 19 balls in a disastrous final session as their bid to complete a 3-1 series victory - and the highest run chase ever at The Oval - went up in smoke.
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The Aussies know they let a glorious chance to make history go begging and the injuries to Starc and Cummins have only compounded the disappointment. Starc played through the pain of an AC injury to his left shoulder, which the paceman picked up while fielding a ball during the fourth Test at Old Trafford.
Incredibly, the left-arm quick still managed to take eight wickets at The Oval and was named Australia's player of the series after starring with the ball and chipping in with some crucial cameos with the bat. Starc put off scans on his shoulder so he could play his part for Australia in what Cummins described as an "incredible effort" from the paceman.
"(He) ended up player of the series for our team," Cummins said. "Managing that (shoulder complaint) throughout this game was just a proper effort.
Cummins also revealed he was carrying a wrist injury sustained on day one at The Oval and like Starc, would have scans in the coming days to learn the extent of the damage. "I landed on my wrist on day one in the field going for a run out," Cummins said.
"It's pretty sore. We'll get it assessed over the next few days and work out if anything needs to happen. There's always different things you are trying to deal with along the way but overall everyone is pretty good."
The Aussies will be hoping neither injury is too serious, ahead of an upcoming white-ball tour of South Africa. The Aussie squad will be named next week, with the majority of the side's multi-format players set to be rested for the three-match Twenty20 series starting on August 30.
Cummins, Starc and the other big names would then be likely to return for the five one-day internationals (ODIs) that will serve as crucial preparation for the ODI World Cup in India, in October and November. Starc's fitness will be particularly crucial as he has been Australia's leading wicket-taker for the past two World Cups.
David Warner may have done enough for fairytale farewell
As far as the Test cricket side of things goes for the Aussie side, the biggest uncertainty surrounds the future of David Warner. The veteran opener finished the Ashes series with an underwhelming average of 28.5 with the bat after posting just two half centuries across 10 innings.
Warner revealed earlier in the year that he would like to retire during Australia's home Test series in the summer. Warner's battling 60 in the fourth innings at The Oval has boosted his chances of featuring in a fairytale farewell on his SCG home ground, during the third Test against Pakistan in January. Certainly, Cummins' thoughts on the veteran suggest he has done enough to bow out on his own terms.
"There were some times he looked really good, played some really important innings," Cummins said about the 36-year-old opener. "The thing about playing in England, you can get the conditions against you.
"He walked out sometimes under lights and clouds, and a 30 there is worth double. The (140-run) partnership he put on yesterday (day four) with Uz (Khawaja) was fantastic.
"It was probably the story of the tour. So many moments where he felt like he got on top of the game and (England) got themselves back in."
with AAP
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