Australia Down to Nine Players for T20 World Cup Warm-Ups: Eyeing on the Glory
Australia faces a significant challenge for their two T20 World Cup warm-up matches as several key players involved in the IPL have been given a short break before joining the squad in the West Indies.
Due to Mitchell Marsh’s hamstring injury that ended his IPL career, they will only have nine players available for Tuesday’s (Wednesday AM Australia time) match against Namibia. This will further strain their already limited resources. On Thursday, they take on West Indies, their co-hosts.
After participating in the Sunday’s IPL final, Pat Cummins, Travis Head, and Mitchell Starc will make a quick trip back to Australia before re-joining the World Cup team. Among those spending time at home are Glenn Maxwell and Cameron Green, who were a part of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s playoff run. When the Australian team travels to Barbados in preparation for their opening group game against Oman on June 5, those five are expected to arrive. Marcus Stoinis is still absent from the Caribbean.
Being adaptable is crucial, Marsh stated to cricket.com.au. “There were guys at the IPL. We have decided to give them a few days at home so they can visit with their families, rest, and prepare for this event because they have been playing a lot of cricket. Even though it’s [just] a few days at home, it’s crucial that we give them a respite before we reach our 15.
It implies that if Australia wants a complete complement, they will probably have to ask members of the coaching staff to field in the warm-up matches. Brad Hodge has been added to the tournament support team, and Andrew McDonald, the head coach, George Bailey, the national selector, and assistant coach Andre Borovec are also possible additions.
After the IPL, Daniel Vettori, another assistant coach, will join the team. He has been the head coach of Sunrisers Hyderabad, but he is not allowed to field in warm-up matches; players must be from the participating nation.
Despite a slower than anticipated recovery from the hamstring injury he sustained while playing for the Delhi Capitals, Marsh, who will captain Australia in a global event for the first time, expressed confidence that he would be able to play both warm-up matches as a batter.
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“I’m just ticking off the last few things I need to tick off to be fit and available,” he stated. “Today went really well. It’s been going slowly at first, but we’re now getting there, and we’re excited to start the tournament.
“At first, we believed it would take three weeks, but tendon treatments can take a little longer, so you kind of have to go on feel. We’ve taken our time to get it right since I was ruled out of the IPL, and I feel fortunate to have had that extra time to prepare. Like everyone else who has here today, I’m ready to go.”
While some teams have chosen to skip practice altogether, Australia’s two warm-ups will be important for players returning from the off-season, such as Josh Inglis, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood, and Ashton Agar, as well as for players who did not play much for their IPL teams, such as Matthew Wade and Nathan Ellis. David Warner, whose time as an international player will end at the World Cup, is also entering the competition with a hand injury and a lean IPL physique.
“Warner didn’t really score runs until he took a hard hit to the hand. Basically, had the worst contusion on the back of his hand and bone bruising that he’s ever seen,” Delhi Capitals head coach Ricky Ponting said during the ICC review. “He’s a feisty little competitor that once the World Cup comes around, he hits the Australian colours back on again, then I’ve got no real concerns about him.”
