ICC World Cup 2023: Australia Head Coach Andrew McDonald Gives Update On Travis Head's Availablity For The Tournament

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Johanesburg, September 18: Australia head coach Andrew McDonald gave an important update on Travis Head's availablity for the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023 in India after the opener picked up an injury during the tour to South Africa last week.

In-form Head was forced to retire out during the Australian innings in the fourth ODI against South Africa due to a fracture in the left hand that also ruled him out of the series decider and the tour to India for a three-match ODI series.

The 29-year-old was among the 15-member squad for the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, scheduled to start on October 5, but now the Australian head coach McDonald has revealed some mixed news regarding the opener's participation.

McDonald has said Head will miss the first half of the World Cup in India with his participation in the rest of the tournament also uncertain, leaving the door open for the inclusion of in-form Marnus Labuschagne.

The opener was struck on the left glove by a short delivery from Proteas seamer Gerald Coetzee in the fourth ODI against South Africa last week. McDonald revealed that Head doesn't require surgery but the Australian selectors need to deliberate on the risk of "carrying" him in the World Cup squad.

"The timeframe is still a bit loose at the moment but the good news is he doesn't require surgery as it sits at the moment. There will be an extended period of time out and we've just got to weigh up whether that time (out) falls with an option to carry him through the front half of the World Cup," McDonald said.

"There's no doubt he won't be available for the front half, so that's a decision we'll have to make for the final 15. But I can't give you an exact time frame." The World Cup starts on October 5 with the final scheduled for November 19.

Head's injury leaves the door open for Labuschagne, who did not make the cut for Australia's 15-member provisional squad. However, Labuschagne put up tremendous display in the ODIs against South Africa, finishing as the leading run-scorer with 1 hundred and 1 fifty to his name.

"I can't talk on behalf of the selection panel and lock him away in the World Cup 15 but it's no doubt looking likely," McDonald said. "He's made a significant shift in his intent at the crease and putting the bowlers under pressure (more) than he was potentially 12 months ago. He's struck at around 100 strike-rate in this series.

"We know Marnus is a quality player and he probably didn't have the 12-18 months in one-day cricket that he would have liked. "But he's no doubt taken that opportunity with both hands and there's no doubt he'll be front and centre when it comes to that 15-man squad down the track," he added.

In Head's absence, Mitchell Marsh is likely to be elevated to the opening position. Australia take on India in Chennai on October 8 in their World Cup opener. The last date to make changes to the squad is September 28, post which any changes would need approval from the ICC.

Ahead of the World Cup campaign, Australia will face India in a three-match series for which key players like Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Starc have made their returns to the squad, adding boost for the show-piece tournament preparation.

(With PTI inputs)