Australia will be without the services of their standout all-rounder, Mitchell Marsh, for the eagerly awaited ODI World Cup 2023 match against England on Saturday, November 4. The showdown will take place at the massive Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Marsh has returned to his hometown of Perth due to family reasons, and it’s uncertain when the 32-year-old will rejoin his teammates in India. As of now, there’s no decision regarding whether a replacement is needed for him in the squad. This situation is a significant setback for Australia because Marsh was in good form, having scored a century and a half-century in six games. Up to this point, he has bowled only 42 balls in the ODI World Cup and taken two wickets.
The team, which has won the World Cup five times in the past, had a rough start with two consecutive losses but has since turned things around impressively with four straight wins. Currently, they occupy the third position on the points table, trailing behind South Africa and India.
As a result, the swashbuckling top-order batter won’t be available for Australia’s upcoming World Cup clash against England in Ahmedabad.
In its official statement, Cricket Australia confirmed Marsh’s departure and clarified that a timeline on his return would be confirmed soon.
“Australian allrounder Mitchell Marsh has returned home from the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 late last night for personal reasons. A timeline on his return to the squad is to be confirmed. No further detail will be offered at this time,” the statement read.
After struggling in two previous games, Marsh rediscovered his form during the match against Sri Lanka, playing a pivotal role in Australia’s victory with an electrifying fifty. He continued his outstanding performance in the following game against Pakistan, delivering a stunning century that secured a comprehensive win for his team.
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In the current World Cup, Marsh has accumulated a total of 225 runs, maintaining a respectable average of 37.50 and an impressive strike rate of 91.46. If he is unavailable for future matches, Australia may consider including Cameron Green as a flexible addition to their batting lineup.
Marcus Stoinis is on the road to recovery from a minor calf issue that sidelined him for the last two games against the Netherlands and New Zealand. Cameron Green is also expected to make a comeback, while Marnus Labuschagne is likely to retain his spot in the middle order. However, Australia faces a challenge with just 13 fit players for the upcoming clash against England, with Sean Abbott and Alex Carey being the only other options in the squad.
Mitchell Marsh’s absence is a significant setback, which might result in Steven Smith returning to his preferred No.3 position. This setback disrupts Australia’s equilibrium, as they’ll be missing two of their most explosive and game-changing players, Marsh and Maxwell, in their crucial match against England as they aim to secure a spot in the semi-finals.
