Australian cricket team has had a terrible start to its ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 campaign. While the five-time champions lost to hosts India by six wickets at Chepauk, they suffered a crushing 134-run defeat at the hands of South Africa in Lucknow.

In order to qualify for the semifinals, Australia will have to win six of their remaining seven league matches. They are due to face Sri Lanka in their next game in Lucknow on Monday (October 16).

Ahead of the all-important fixture, Australia skipper Pat Cummins is facing the flak for his below-par showing and for dropping wicketkeeper Alex Carey in the match against South Africa.

Amid the scrutiny, former Australia skipper Michael Clarke, who led the national team to 2015 World Cup title, has claimed that the team management is planning to bench Cummins for the crucial Sri Lanka clash.

“I heard last night that Pat Cummins is not going to be selected for this game,” Clarke was quoted as saying by Fox Sports.

“We’ve dropped our wicketkeeper… who is one of the most important people in your squad. So he got one game and got dropped. Now there’s talk we’re going to drop our captain,” he added.

Clarke slammed the Australian team management for not being able to figure out their best playing XI heading into the World Cup.

“So in in two games our two most significant players in a squad on tour are going to be left out. Do you not know your best XI before you get to a World Cup? If Alex Carey is only given one game, he shouldn’t be in India. They shouldn’t have taken him. If Pat Cummins is going to get dropped and not captain the team, then you guys have selected the wrong captain,” he remarked.

Currently languishing at the bottom of the Cricket World Cup points table featuring 10 teams, Australia have failed miserably with the bat in the ongoing World Cup so far. While they were bowled out for 199 in 49.3 overs against India, South Africa restricted them to 177/10 in 40.5 overs.