Australia opener Travis Head ruled out for first half of World Cup 2023, confirms coach Andrew McDonald
Australia opener Travis Head will not be able to play in the first half of the ODI World Cup, confirmed coach Andrew McDonald.
Head, who broke his finger during the 4th ODI of the 5-match series against South Africa is one of Australia’s most prolific batters in the last 12 months.
Reuters reported that Head will go home on Monday for more medical tests while the rest of the squad will travel from South Africa to India for a three-match series, which will be played between September 22-27. Australia will face India in Mohali, Indore and Rajkot, and serve as a tune-up for the 50-over World Cup, which begins on October 5.
“The timeframe is still a little bit loose at the moment,” McDonald told a press conference on Sunday after Australia lost a third successive ODI to South Africa and went down 3-2 in the series.
“But the good news is that he doesn’t require surgery as it sits at the moment. The follow up scan confirmed the fracture was in a joint,” he further added.
In the absence of Head, Mitchell Marsh opened the innings for Australia in the final ODI match. Australia have the option to open with Cameron Green as well, but it is unlikely that they can match the explosiveness that Head brings to the table.
“There will be an extended period of time out and we’re just going to weigh whether that time falls potentially with an option to carry him through the front half of the World Cup,” McDonald said.
“But there is no doubt that he won’t be available for the front half. So that’s a decision we’ll need to make in terms of the final 15. But I can’t give you an exact timeframe,” the Australia coach further added.
Head had to retire hurt in his country’s 164-run defeat to South Africa at Centurion on Friday after being hit on the hand by Gerald Coetzee.
The 29-year-old, who has been a spearhead at the top of the innings for Australia in one dayers, would be sorely missed if he is ruled out of the World Cup.
If he does not make it, there is a strong chance that Marnus Labuschagne will be included after he was left out of the preliminary squad. Marnus travelled to South Africa for the five match series as an injury replacement for Steve Smith and was top scorer with 283 runs in five innings, for an average of 70.74 and was twice named man of the match.
“I can’t talk on behalf of the selection panel but I think he’s made a significant shift. He’s come in and he’s taken that opportunity,” added McDonald.