Australia’s chief selector, George Bailey, confirmed that Travis Head would resume his role at the top of the order once he recovers fully from his hand injury, which means in-form Mitchell Marsh, who delivered an impressive performance alongside David Warner against Pakistan, will likely shift lower down the batting order.
Head, who suffered a fractured left hand recently, is expected to rejoin the Australian World Cup squad in Delhi ahead of their match against Netherlands at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. He had been wearing a splint until last Friday, with the medical team opting against surgery, which would have prolonged his recovery to 10 weeks.
“Clearly, he (Travis Head) comes in at the top,” Bailey affirmed. “He’s been fantastic there for us, and that’s where he’ll slot in. And then we’ll just work out the Playing XI based on the match, the opposition, the pitch conditions, and our requirements.”
Bailey stated that the return against Netherlands falls within the six to eight-week recovery period for Head’s injury. However, he emphasized the importance of not rushing Head’s comeback, ensuring he is fully fit before he resumes his role in the team.
“If it works out for that Dutch game, great. If it’s a little bit further on, then that’s okay,” Bailey commented regarding Head’s comeback timeline.
Marsh, who stepped up admirably in Head’s absence, is expected to move to the No.3 position upon Head’s return. However, this shift means someone down the batting order will need to make way. Speculation surrounds Marcus Stoinis, but Bailey praised Stoinis for providing Australia with the flexibility to adapt their playing XI based on match requirements.
“‘Stoin’ brought a really great energy with his bowling and made some key breakthroughs to get everyone going, and he also took a nice catch,” Bailey remarked.
Australia’s World Cup campaign gained momentum with a convincing victory against Pakistan in Bengaluru. The standout performance included a record-breaking opening partnership between Marsh and Warner, followed by a stellar bowling display by Adam Zampa. With the possibility of Head’s return, Australia faces an interesting lineup dilemma as they gear up to face Netherlands on October 25, potentially introducing a new opening combination if Head is declared fit.
