- Josh Inglis to replace Mitch Marsh as captain
- Marsh returned home from IPL with ankle injury
- Australia already missing Cummins and Head for tour
Stand-in captain Mitchell Marsh has been ruled out of the ODI series in Pakistan, that starts later this week. Josh Inglis is to lead a severely understrength line up, as Pat Cummins and Travis Head are also out, due to IPL commitments.
Marsh didn’t play in Lucknow Super Giants’ last game of the IPL against Punjab Kings on Saturday. He was already back in Australia, after flying back on 19th May, when LSG’s game with Rajasthan Royals finished.
Marsh was due to fly to Rawalpindi with the rest of the squad this weekend. However, due to an ankle injury, and having had significant injuries to the ankle in the past, he didn’t go. His availability for the three-match ODI series in Bangladesh that starts on 9th June, and the three-match T20I series on 17th June is still unknown.
Fourth choice skipper Inglis
With Marsh not going, Australia have put Josh Inglis in charge of the team, with both permanent captain Pat Cummins and Test joint vice-captain Travis Head missing the series, due to both playing in the IPL playoffs. Inglis has lead Australia before in an ODI and three T20Is against Pakistan. Should Inglis miss any games, Alex Carey is another option to lead the team, as he skippered the team in the Caribbean back in 2021.
As well as Cummins and Head missing the tour, Australia are also without Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc. Cooper Connolly, Xavier Bartlett and Ben Dwarshuis were all left out as they were expected to be involved in the IPL playoffs. But their side, Punjab Kings, lost six of the last seven to miss out.
No replacement for Marsh has been announced yet. Connolly could be flown to Pakistan early, having flown home after the final IPL game.
Marsh a big miss at the top of the order
Marsh missing the series is a huge blow for Australia. He finished the IPL as ninth highest scorer with 563 runs in 13 innings and a strike rate of 163.18. His last four innings were 111, 10, 90 and 96. He also hit the third most sixes.
Marsh and Head are locked in as Australia’s first-choice ODI openers heading towards next year’s World Cup. Matt Short was due to open with Marsh, while Head was in India, but the selectors will need a rethink.
Australia coach Andrew McDonald said he wanted to use all-rounder Cameron Green lower down the order at stages during the two series as Australia search for a permanent replacement for Glenn Maxwell in the ODI team.
Australia squad for ODIs in Pakistan
Josh Inglish (c), Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Riley Meredith, Ollie Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Tanveer Sangha, Liam Scott, Matthew Short, Billy Stanlake, Adam Zampa.
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