Australia skipper Marsh fit for World Cup opener, but will not bowl

English Woman's Journal - Australia skipper Marsh fit for World Cup opener, but will not bowl

SPORTS 01.06.2024

Australia skipper Marsh fit for World Cup opener, but will not bowl / Photo: Brenton EDWARDS - AFP

Australia skipper Mitchell Marsh has been declared fit for their opening match at the T20 World Cup, but he will not be bowling, coach Andrew McDonald said.

Change text size:

The all-rounder headed home from the Indian Premier League in April with a hamstring injury and only made his return this week in two practice matches in Trinidad.

But he did not field for the full innings in either game, with a timeline on his bowling return still unclear.

"For Mitch, (the warm-up games) were about ticking off where his body was at," McDonald told cricket.com.au in comments posted late Friday.

"He fielded more overs, he was able to move more freely, so he's building a little bit of confidence there. It looks as though he's all set for the first game.

"The second part is just when the bowling comes back online ...it won't be the first game."

Marsh, officially appointed T20 skipper last month to replace the retired Aaron Finch, will head into Australia's opening World Cup match against Oman on June 6 in Barbados with limited time in the middle.

He made 18 off 14 balls against Namibia and four-from-four against the West Indies in their two warm-up matches.

His recovery is the main concern for an otherwise fit 15-man squad, which is looking to add the T20 crown to their one-day and Test world titles.

Pat Cummins, Travis Head, Mitchell Starc, Glenn Maxwell and Cameron Green all missed the warm-up fixtures after playing in the IPL finals and will link up with the squad in Barbados.

"We feel as though we have plenty of time to bring that group together," said McDonald.

"It's a familiar group, they've played a lot together. If they hadn't played a lot together then the prep might have looked different.

"It will just be finalising the XIs for the games, and the balances that we want. We've got plenty of options," he added.

N.Steward--EWJ

Paul George Scores 36 as Celtics Defeat Sixers 123-101 to Take East Lead

The Boston Celtics claimed first place in the Eastern Conference on Tuesday night, defeating the Philadelphia 76ers 123-101 at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Paul George led all scorers with 36 points in his return to Philadelphia, while a decisive third-quarter run extended Boston's lead and dropped the Sixers to second place.

Mets President David Stearns Expresses Confidence in Marcus Semien's Motivation

New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns has identified Marcus Semien’s self-motivation as the primary factor in his potential recovery from an underwhelming debut season. Speaking at the general managers meetings in Las Vegas, Stearns affirmed that the team remains confident in Semien’s ability to improve, even as they evaluate other infield options for next year.

FA Cup Second-Round Draw Confirmed for Non-League and Midlands Clubs

The FA Cup second-round draw has been finalized, setting up crucial ties for non-league teams aiming to reach the third round proper. Several clubs from the Midlands, including Burton Albion and Kidderminster Harriers, have secured their next opponents following recent victories over lower-league opposition.

Panthers expected to begin 2027 NRL season away from new stadium

The new Penrith Stadium is expected to be ready in time for the opening round of the 2027 NRL season, but it’s still likely the Panthers is expected to be on the road for their early matches. There is no delay to the build of the new $309 million venue but there’s a lack of appetite for risk around weather delays through the summer.