Travis Head will miss at least the first half of the World Cup and possibly the entire tournament as Australia deal with a disastrous finish to their tour of South Africa.
Scans confirmed Head won’t require surgery after he fractured his left hand in the fourth one-day international of the five-match series, which Australia ended up losing 3-2 after leading 2-0.
But the selectors will need to decide if it’s worth carrying Head for the front half of the World Cup in the hope he can recover and impact at the tournament’s back end.
The bad news came after another wretched day in the Australians’ World Cup preparations on Sunday (Monday AEST) in Johannesburg, as they suffered another heavy ODI defeat, by 122 runs, to the Proteas in their series finale.
Head has averaged 50.66 with a strike-rate of 153.53 against the Proteas, his swashbuckling first-wicket alliance with David Warner one of Australia’s key strengths.
“The time frame is still a little bit loose,” Australia coach Andrew McDonald said.
“The good news is he doesn’t require surgery, as it stands at the moment.
“There will be an extended period of time out and we’ve got to weigh up whether that time falls potentially with an option to carry him through the front half of the World Cup.
“There’s no doubt he won’t be available for the front half.”
McDonald says Marnus Labuschagne – the series’ leading run-scorer (283 runs at 70.75) – is now “likely” to be included in the World Cup squad, to be finalised on September 28.
“I can’t talk on behalf of the selection panel and lock him away for the World Cup (squad of) 15 but it’s no doubt looking likely,” McDonald said.
“I think he’s made a significant shift in his intent at the crease and putting the bowlers under pressure from where he was 12 months ago.
“There’s no doubt he’ll be front-and-centre when it comes to the 15-man squad later on down the track.”
Player-of-the-series Aiden Markram (93) spearheaded South Africa’s 9-315 at Johannesburg before Australia were blown away for 193 in 34.1 overs, paceman Marco Jansen (5-39) and spinner Keshav Maharaj (4-33) collecting career-best figures.
Australia’s three successive losses in South Africa have come by massive margins of 111 runs at Potchefstroom, 164 runs at Centurion and now 122 runs at the Bullring and they’ve included horrific batting collapses of 8-60, 5-67 and 8-69.
“We can’t afford to expose our lower-order hitters at six and seven, where we do have some power down there, too early,” McDonald said.
“That happened a bit too often in this series.
“It’s something we need to tighten up on.
“You can’t win too many games of cricket if you’re getting exposed, four, five down before the halfway mark of the innings.”
Australia’s World Cup preparations continue with a three-match ODI series against India, starting in Mohali next week.
Opener Matt Short has been called in to replace Head for Australia’s three-match ODI series against India, which starts in Mohali next week.
Four of Australia’s big guns – captain Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc and Glenn Maxwell – will make their return from injury for the series.
Spinner Ashton Agar has already returned to Australia for the birth of his first child, while Michael Neser and Tim David will leave the squad. Aaron Hardie has been added to the squad for the ODI series in India as cover for Sean Abbott (split webbing) and Nathan Ellis (low-grade adductor strain).
AUSTRALIA SQUAD FOR INDIA TOUR: Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner, Adam Zampa.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Watching a bit of the state one day cup. The bowlers from Queensland. Nesser, Sandhu. Made me wonder when Queensland are going to come up with some new actual fast bowlers? They are the third biggest state on population. Of course I could ask that about most states . There’s not many great young bowlers , or batsman at a domestic level. It’s pretty slim pickings & very sad.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
Warner and MM are dashers IMO, though Davey's obviously slowed down a little. If Green can repeat some of the innings he played in the IPL in the 50 over format, he could easily strike at better than 150. You're right, Smith & Marnus can both get motoring, but I'd compare them to a touring car. It takes longer than a sports car to get to 150kmh, but it does get there.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
As much as l like Head l don't think he should come back unless we're still in contention as the Cup reaches it's climax. Even then it'd be a stroke of luck for him to perform as expected
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Far better information that way.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
He has cricket credentials. The playing of cricket, in its different formats, differs mostly in the minds of social media and the press. Hardie attacks, defends, builds, explodes. One of the best outfielders in the country and takes wickets. Your stats are your blindfold.
DDragon
Roar Rookie
Ok will watch his next number of innings , your right spreadsheets mean nothing don’t know why they have them, just watch TV every game .
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Not at all, he has no credentials whatsoever in 50 over cricket.
jammel
Roar Rookie
Smithie can motor a bit if he wants to. Marnus can really only be a #4..... The one thing I would say about my best available top 5 is that at least they can all make big scores internationally. We will need that. There are no dasher who'll make 35(25) but never go on in that top 5.
jammel
Roar Rookie
I wouldn't say I'm happy Tempo. I'm working with this squad. tbf, Stoinis wouldn't be in my XV (I've made this point a few times recently on this site).
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Circumstances. Slog at the end. Sacrifice. Isolate cricket and you miss all context. Shield, BBL, ODD all together earned him selection. He was outstanding. Australia A? Stats lie…unless you balance your reading.
Ace
Roar Rookie
Fair comments Tempo. My thinking was that as they had Cummins, Starc, Green and Marsh it logical to pair Agar and Zampa to take the pace off Again Maxwell could bowl but my previous comment about lack of match play stands. And why must they continue to pick him. Besides Agar is a capable batter but just underplayed Youth is what they need and Hardie is a batting allrounder who can be in there for just batting ..and he has been involved in Africa ..so prepared As for Stoinis..don't need him at any time. Underperformer Anyway, each other's thoughts are interesting to read..cheers
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You seem to be dragging numbers from another time. He only played 3 innings on this tour. Numbers from the past are an indicator of nothing. He's playing now. Form now is important. Starc and Cummins were the best in the world a while ago. They aren't now. You need to watch cricket to get a sense of who's playing well. A spreadsheet won't tell you.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Good point.. So I checked. He only averaged 19.7 in last year’s Marsh Cup. Only five innings, top score 23*. So pretty reasonable to say he hasn’t proved himself. They are extrapolating off some decent form in a season or so of FC and T20, but it’s just about potential at this stage.
DDragon
Roar Rookie
Please correct me if I am wrong ODI 6 innings , 92 runs , 50 Highest score , Avg 15.33 . IMO not up to it , he was one of my favourites in Big bash BUT just saying .
Tempo
Roar Rookie
You're happy to have a number 7 batsman who has averaged 17 with the bat over the last 4 years (Stoinis)?
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Michael Bevan still, after all this time.
Tempo
Roar Rookie
Agar was always going to come home for paternity leave mid-way through the tour. He should have played more than one game but pulled up sore after the first game. He would have been very useful in the third ODI, lack of spin options was a major factor in that game. I disagree that Agar must always play with Zampa. Pitches that offer more for seamers do not require two spinners. You are unlikely to get a pitch at Dharamshala which warrants two spinners for instance. A blanket choice on a two spinner team balance would be the equivalant of saying you only ever need one spinner in Australia during the 90s when the SCG often turned square. If it were up to me I'd have Green batting ahead of Carey but team management seem to favour Carey at 5, perhaps influenced by his left-handedness and lack of big hitting compared to Green. Green is very clearly a better batsman. Maxwell and Hardie are totally different players so Hardie can't replace him. Maxwell bowls spin, Hardie bowls pace - we're already likely to have two pace bowling allrounders in the team (Marsh and Green). Hardie looks better suited to bat up the order and his strong suit is against pace bowling. Maxwell is perfectly suited to the No.7 and floating hitter role and his strong suit is spin hitting. That's why selectors were keen to try out Tim David as a potential understudy for Maxwell though clearly that didn't work. Hardie is an understudy to Marsh, Green and Stoinis. Agree Maxwell's lack of cricket post-injury is a major concern. He did play most of the Blast season in County Cricket and even got a first class game in, but stringing together 9 50 over matches plus hopefully a semi and final is a much bigger ask.
Tempo
Roar Rookie
Agree 100% with all that.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
Sorry, I went back and read my comment and have changed it. I meant that rather than leave Marnus out, Labuschagne should bat lower and learn to finish an innings. As for Dhoni, he's considered by many good judges eg AB de Villiers, as the best finisher of all time in white ball cricket. I tend to agree, given what I've seen him do, especially late in his career.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
It's a waste of Green's talent to bat lower. Dhoni only came off every now and then. He got good press, though.