Australia has lost T20 World Cup hero Mitch Marsh for the ODI series against Pakistan after the all-rounder suffered a hip injury at training with Cameron Green set to take his place.
The loss of Marsh for the three-match series will add to the pressure already on an inexperienced bowling outfit including rookie Nathan Ellis as well as Jason Behrendorff and Sean Abbott after Kane Richardson was a late withdrawal due to a hamstring injury.
Australia will also be without wicketkeeper and batsman Josh Inglis who tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday.
“Inglis will isolate for five days before returning to the squad,” said a Cricket Australia release.
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Matt Renshaw is flying to Pakistan as a replacement but will first have to undergo three days of isolation before he can join the squad.
The rest of the squad returned negative test results, so for now there are no fears of a wider outbreak.
Test fast bowling trio Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood will all be rested from the series along with veteran opener David Warner while Steve Smith was forced out with injury and all-rounder Glenn Maxwell misses after getting married.
The Aussies have reinjected Test batters Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne to bolster the team’s experience.
But the loss of Marsh, who hasn’t played for Australia since his player-of-the-match performance in the World Cup final last November, is an early setback.
“He’s injured his hip-flexor, we think, at training. We are going to have to wait and see what that looks like but I don’t think he’ll be available for the series based on how he was feeling yesterday,” Finch said from Lahore on Monday.
“He sustained that in a fielding drill, it was a high intensity, lateral movement drill and he bent down to pick it up one handed and went to throw and felt a twinge. “
Marsh’s absence opens the door for Green, who played all three Test matches against Pakistan, to add to his single ODI as a like-for-like all-round replacement.
Finch said Green was a “super talented” cricketer and was excited to see him get another opportunity as Australia prepares for back-to-back T20 and 50-over World Cups in 2022 and 2023.
“Cam will play and probably bat in that middle-order role … we’ve seen he’s a super talented cricketer, his impact with the bat and ball can’t be understated,” Finch said.
Finch said that opportunity existed for all the players in the squad who aren’t regulars to press their ongoing claims with so many absentees.
“We’ve still got a really solid idea of what our squad and out 11 would look like if the World Cup was tomorrow. It’s about making sure we are building that depth. His impact with the bat and ball can’t be understated. really excited for him to get this opportunity,
“It’’s a great opportunity for guys to put their hand sup and really build a case for their long term spot in the squad, the excitement of having a younger side is huge as well. It’s about guys taking their opportunities when they present themselves. There’s going to be difficult times throughout the series but really excited for these guys to get an opportunity.
The first of three ODIs, which will all be played in Lahore, will be played on Tuesday.
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