Despite hamstring niggles, captain Aaron Finch and power hitter Tim David retain a chance of featuring in Australia’s must-win T20 World Cup game against Afghanistan.
Finch, David and Marcus Stoinis all suffered hamstring injuries in Australia’s win against Ireland in Brisbane on Monday night.
Stoinis is certain to take to the field against Afghanistan on Friday night in Adelaide, while Finch and David face further fitness tests.
“We will keep assessing them over the next 48 hours,” Australia’s chairman of selectors George Bailey told reporters on Wednesday.
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“Stoin … is good to go, the other two are actually pretty good, they are moving pretty well out there today.
Aaron Finch (Photo by Chris Hyde-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)
“I haven’t had a chance to grab our medical staff … I trust what information they will give us and I trust the information that Finchy will give us.
“We will give it the time it needs.”
David and skipper Finch undertook some light running at Australia’s optional training session in Adelaide on Wednesday but did not bat. Stoinis did not participate in the session.
The Australians must defeat Afghanistan in their last group game to have any hope of progressing to the semi-finals as they bid to defend their title.
The host nation sit third in their group behind New Zealand (first) and England (second).
All three are level on five points and favoured to win their remaining group games, with net run-rate set to decide the two countries that advance.
Tim David of Australia. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)
The Kiwis play Ireland at Adelaide Oval on Friday afternoon, while England meet Sri Lanka in the group’s final game on Saturday.
“We will probably run 20 different scenarios,” Bailey said.
“But first and foremost, it’s about winning the game, I don’t think you want to get too carried away with anything other than that at the outset.
“But then, no doubt we will be aware of certain permutations.”
Bailey said much of the second-guessing would ultimately be out of Australia’s control, given England play the next day.
“First and foremost, it’s about playing as well as we can,” he said.
“I don’t think we have put a complete game of T20 cricket together this tournament yet.
“So to go outside of that and start searching too much without thinking … to win the game would be dangerous for us.
“But we will be aware of what we need to do if we need to press a button at some stage.”
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