Cricket

Australia's T20 World Cup preparations have been hampered by the absence of several key players who were involved in the Indian Premier League (IPL) final. The team will have just nine players available for their warm-up match against Namibia on Tuesday, with captain Mitchell Marsh still recovering from a hamstring injury.Pat Cummins, Travis Head, and Mitchell Starc, who played in the IPL final on Sunday, will briefly return to Australia before joining the World Cup squad. Glenn Maxwell and Cameron Green, who were part of Royal Challengers Bangalore's playoff run, are also spending time at home. These five players are expected to arrive when the Australia squad reaches Barbados ahead of their first group match against Oman on June 5.Marcus Stoinis has also yet to arrive in the Caribbean. "It's important to be flexible," Marsh said. "Guys have been at the IPL. They've been playing a lot of cricket so we've prioritized giving them a couple of days at home, see their family, refresh and play the long game for this tournament."Australia may need to call on members of the coaching staff to field during the warm-up matches if they want a full complement. Brad Hodge, Andrew McDonald, George Bailey, and Andre Borovec could be called in. Daniel Vettori, another assistant coach, will also be part of the group but would not be eligible to field in warm-up matches.Marsh is confident of being able to play both warm-up matches as a batter despite his hamstring injury. "I'm just ticking off the last few things I need to tick off to be fit and available," he said. "All went well today. It's been progressively slow but finally getting there now and looking forward to getting stuck into the tournament."Some teams have opted out of practice matches altogether, but Australia's two warm-ups will be important for players coming from the off-season and those who did not feature much for their IPL sides. David Warner, whose international career will end at the World Cup, is also coming into the tournament after a lean IPL and a hand injury.

Mitchell Marsh's recovery from a hamstring tear has been slower than anticipated, but Australia's coach, Andrew McDonald, remains confident that the skipper will be fully fit for the opening game of the World Cup. Marsh was ruled out of the IPL last month and has been undergoing rehabilitation since returning home from India.McDonald confirmed that Marsh will not be fit to bowl until the final week before the squad departs for the Caribbean on May 25. However, he emphasized that Marsh has made significant progress and will be able to ramp up his bowling intensity once the team arrives in the Caribbean."We've got plenty of time now that he has been ruled out the IPL," McDonald said. "The first game is just short of a month away now. So ample time for him to get ready."McDonald also addressed concerns about Marsh's lack of match practice, stating that Australia will have practice games before their opening clash with Oman. "We've got a couple of practice games when we get to Trinidad in the support period," McDonald said. "So he'll likely get plenty of match opportunities."The coach also confirmed that Australia will likely take one traveling reserve but has yet to decide on the type of player they need as cover for the 15-man squad.McDonald defended the age profile of Australia's squad, which includes only one player under the age of 28. "I'm a big believer in you don't know when the end is going to be," McDonald said. "And a lot of people write off those players just based around their age."He highlighted the strong performances of senior players such as David Warner, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, and Mitchell Starc in recent months. "Those players that are probably the elder statesman of the team are still performing at international level," McDonald said. "And that goes a long way."

Delhi Capitals Bolster Squad with Gulbadin Naib as Mitchell Marsh ReplacementDelhi Capitals have secured the services of Afghanistan allrounder Gulbadin Naib as a replacement for the injured Mitchell Marsh for the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Naib, who was acquired for his reserve price of INR 50 lakh, will make his IPL debut with the Delhi-based franchise.Marsh's departure from the IPL was necessitated by a hamstring injury sustained during the tournament. The Australian allrounder played four matches for DC, scoring 61 runs and claiming one wicket. His absence has left a void in the team's all-rounder department.Naib, a seasoned campaigner in international cricket, brings a wealth of experience to the Delhi Capitals. The 31-year-old has represented Afghanistan in 100 T20Is, scoring over 1,500 runs and taking 80 wickets. He is known for his aggressive batting and effective medium-pace bowling.DC head coach Ricky Ponting expressed confidence in Naib's abilities, stating that he is a "quality allrounder" who can contribute with both bat and ball. Ponting also revealed that Marsh's absence will not impact his availability for the T20 World Cup, which begins in June.The Delhi Capitals are currently sixth in the IPL standings with four wins from nine matches. They have a challenging schedule ahead, facing Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Lucknow Super Giants in their remaining fixtures.Naib's addition to the squad is expected to provide DC with much-needed depth and versatility. His experience and all-round skills could prove invaluable as the team aims to secure a playoff berth.

Mitchell Marsh Ruled Out of IPL 2024 for Delhi CapitalsDelhi Capitals all-rounder Mitchell Marsh will not return to India for the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season due to an ongoing right hamstring injury. The news was confirmed by head coach Ricky Ponting in New Delhi on Monday.Marsh, who is expected to captain Australia at the upcoming T20 World Cup, flew back to Perth on April 12 to consult with Cricket Australia's (CA) medical staff. A decision on his return to the IPL was initially delayed to allow him ample time to recover.However, Ponting revealed that Marsh's recovery has taken longer than anticipated. "I don't think he'll be coming back," Ponting said. "There's a certain cut-off point with replacement players. Cricket Australia were keen to have him at home to start his recovery process, and we sent him back as soon as we could."Marsh played only four matches for Delhi this season, scoring 61 runs in three innings and taking one wicket in eight overs. His absence is a significant blow to the Capitals, who are currently eighth in the points table with three wins and five losses.This is the second consecutive season that Delhi has lost Marsh's services midway through the IPL. In 2023, the all-rounder played just nine games for the franchise after being signed for a hefty INR 6.5 crore.Despite Marsh's absence, the Capitals remain in contention for the playoffs with six games remaining. They will need to improve their form and secure some crucial victories to qualify for the knockout stages.

Delhi Capitals' all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has returned to Australia to address a partial tear in his right hamstring. The injury has raised concerns about his availability for the upcoming T20 World Cup, where he is expected to lead the Australian team.Marsh, who has been a key player for the Capitals, missed the team's last two matches against Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants. His last appearance was on April 3 against Kolkata Knight Riders, where he was dismissed for a duck.According to ESPNcricinfo, Marsh's recall to Australia was coordinated between Cricket Australia (CA) and the Delhi Capitals franchise. The decision was made after careful consideration of the injury's severity and the potential impact on Marsh's World Cup preparations.CA has been closely monitoring Marsh's workload over the past year, as he has returned to playing in all three formats of the game. His impressive performances earned him the Allan Border Medal as Australia's best-performed player across all formats.Meanwhile, the Delhi Capitals are also dealing with an injury concern involving David Warner. The opener was hit on the finger while attempting a lap shot against Lucknow Super Giants. Warner underwent scans upon arriving in Ahmedabad, where the Capitals will face Gujarat Titans in their next match on April 17.The Capitals currently sit on four points after six games and will be hoping to have both Marsh and Warner available for their upcoming fixtures. However, the final decision on Marsh's IPL participation will be made after further assessment by CA and the franchise.

Delhi Capitals' Strategic Opening Gambit: Ganguly Explains Warner-Marsh ComboIn a bid to bolster their batting depth, Delhi Capitals (DC) opted for an all-Australian opening combination of David Warner and Mitchell Marsh in their IPL 2024 opener against Punjab Kings (PBKS). The move raised questions about the role of Prithvi Shaw, who was retained by the franchise but did not feature in the starting lineup.DC's Director of Cricket, Sourav Ganguly, shed light on the team's decision-making process. He clarified that Shaw remains an opener but the team wanted to explore different combinations to maximize their batting potential."Prithvi Shaw is an opener. We decided to open with Marsh and Warner, and Ricky Bhui is a middle-order batter. So, they bat at different positions. So it's actually not Bhui for sure. It's a different opening combination, they opened for Australia and they have done well together. So, we decided to do that," Ganguly explained.The Warner-Marsh partnership provided a solid start against PBKS, helping DC set a competitive total of 174. However, the team struggled to maintain momentum in the latter stages of the innings.Ganguly also addressed concerns about Shaw's limited involvement in pre-season preparations. He attributed his absence to injury setbacks and prior commitments to Mumbai's Ranji Trophy campaign. Despite Shaw's delayed participation in training camps, Ganguly emphasized the importance of prioritizing players' fitness and honoring prior commitments."Prithvi Shaw is a young player who has faced some challenges, including injuries and commitments to domestic cricket. But we have faith in his potential and that's why we retained him," Ganguly said.Delhi Capitals will look to regroup and bounce back in their upcoming encounter against Rajasthan Royals on Thursday. The team's strategic decisions and the performance of their opening combination will be closely watched as they aim to improve their fortunes in the tournament.

Ricky Ponting Weighs In on Steve Smith's T20 World Cup Prospects and Australia's CaptaincyICC Hall of Famer Ricky Ponting has offered his insights on the potential inclusion of Steve Smith in Australia's squad for the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup. Ponting also shared his views on who he believes should lead the team in the shortest format.Speaking on The ICC Review, Ponting acknowledged Smith's limited T20I appearances but highlighted his experience as a valuable asset for Australia. "You love having guys like him around because of the experience and the calming influence that you can have around a team during a World Cup," Ponting said.However, Ponting suggested that Smith might not secure a spot in the starting XI due to the team's batting combinations. "But the other thing you always have to be mindful of is what role can he play? So I would think if Steve Smith does find his way into the squad, I don't think he will be in the starting XI," Ponting added.On the topic of Australia's T20 captaincy, Ponting expressed his support for all-rounder Mitchell Marsh. "I think he will (be T20I captain) and I think he deserves it as well as he has matured a lot as a player," Ponting declared. "He's certainly a leader of men...Leadership has always been in the back of the selectors' minds as far as Mitchell Marsh is concerned."Ponting's comments shed light on the strategic decisions facing Australia ahead of the T20 World Cup. Smith's potential inclusion and Marsh's captaincy candidacy are crucial considerations for the team's success in the tournament.

Australia's remarkable 2-0 series victory in New Zealand was a testament to the team's resilience and the ability of different players to step up when needed.Chasing 279 in the third Test, Australia found themselves in dire straits at 34 for 4 and 80 for 5. However, Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey forged a match-winning partnership of 140, putting the pressure back on New Zealand's bowlers.Carey, who had been under scrutiny for his recent form, remained unbeaten on 98, while Marsh contributed a vital 32 not out. Their partnership allowed Australia to chip away at the target and ultimately secure a thrilling victory."The story of this series was in key moments one guy stood up," said Australian captain Pat Cummins. "We didn't necessarily play the complete game, but in those pivotal moments someone stood up and made themselves a matchwinner."Cummins praised the tempo at which Marsh and Carey batted, which kept the run rate ticking over and prevented New Zealand from using the second new ball effectively."We've been on the other side of it plenty of times and if the scoreboard's not moving you feel in the game, but if they are chipping away it seems like it's all happening pretty quickly," he said.New Zealand captain Tim Southee acknowledged the quality of Australia's performance but expressed disappointment at his team's inability to secure a first home win against the Aussies in 31 years."The partnership with Mitch Marsh and Alex Carey sort of broke the back of our attack," he said. "When you are playing the No. 1 side in the world you need to go that little bit further."Australia's victory capped off a successful Test season, with the team winning six of their seven matches. They now have a long break before facing India at home in November.

NZ vs AUS 2nd Test Day 4 Live Updates: Australia Faces Uphill Battle in ChristchurchNew Zealand's bowlers put Australia in a precarious position on Day 4 of the second Test in Christchurch, leaving the tourists needing 202 runs to win with six wickets in hand.Mitchell Marsh (27*) and Travis Head (17*) will resume their innings on Monday, tasked with guiding Australia to an improbable victory. The hosts set a challenging target of 279 for Australia, a daunting task considering the tourists' recent struggles with the bat.New Zealand's bowlers dominated the first session, claiming the wickets of David Warner (13), Marnus Labuschagne (1), Steve Smith (18), and Cameron Green (15). Trent Boult and Tim Southee were the chief destroyers, taking two wickets each.Australia's top order has been under fire throughout the series, and their struggles continued in Christchurch. Warner was caught behind off Boult, while Labuschagne was trapped lbw by Southee. Smith, who has been in poor form, was dismissed by Boult after edging a delivery to wicketkeeper Tom Blundell.Green, who had been Australia's most consistent batsman in the series, was caught at slip off Southee. His dismissal left Australia reeling at 77 for 4, with the match seemingly slipping away from them.However, Marsh and Head showed some resistance in the final session, adding 40 runs for the fifth wicket. Marsh, in particular, looked fluent, hitting four boundaries.Australia will need a monumental effort on Day 5 to pull off a victory. The highest successful fourth innings chase at Hagley Oval is 285 for 8, set by New Zealand against Sri Lanka last year.