Australia’s hopes for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy have been dealt a major blow as power-hitter Mitchell Marsh has been ruled out due to a back injury. The injury, which has flared in recent weeks, led Cricket Australia to make the tough decision to sideline Marsh for a longer rehabilitation period.
Cricket Australia confirmed in a statement, “His (Marsh’s) lower back pain flared in recent weeks, leading the National Selection Panel (NSP) to make the longer-term decision for Marsh to undergo a more extended period of rehabilitation.”
Marsh, the reigning Allan Border Medallist and Australia’s One-Day International Player of the Year in 2024, was a key player and one of the leading options for the captaincy if Pat Cummins was unavailable due to his ankle injury.
The selectors are now on the lookout for a replacement for Marsh, with the deadline for squad changes set for Wednesday, February 12.
This injury setback adds to a series of challenges for Marsh, including being dropped from the Test team before the Boxing Day Test against India. It also contributes to Australia’s injury woes, with Cummins racing to recover from his ankle issue and Marcus Stoinis also dealing with a hamstring injury sustained during South Africa’s T20 competition.
In his most recent outing, Marsh scored an unbeaten 55 off 40 balls for the Durban Super Giants against Paarl. However, he later left the field after feeling discomfort in his hamstring. Durban Super Giants’ captain Keshav Maharaj commented on the situation, saying, “He just felt something in his hamstring. I don’t think it was too serious, but the logical thing to do as a fast bowler is to go off the field. The medical staff will assess and communicate with Cricket Australia.”
Australia will now need to fill the gap left by Marsh as they head into the tournament with a more limited squad.
