Australia is set to receive a significant boost with the comeback of their star batter, Travis Head, as they strive to maintain their winning momentum and secure their third consecutive win in the World Cup 2023. They are gearing up to take on the Netherlands at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium on Wednesday, October 25.
Travis Head had suffered a left-hand injury during Australia’s tour of South Africa last month, which caused him to miss the team’s first four World Cup matches. In Head’s absence, Australia’s batting performance had clearly been lacking, making his return highly anticipated. During the team’s training session in Delhi on Monday, Head was seen batting at full intensity, indicating that he is in good condition and could make his World Cup debut against the Netherlands.
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Team coach Andrew McDonald also confirmed that Head’s recovery from his hand injury has been impressive, and the management is hopeful about his availability for the crucial Australia vs Netherlands clash.
“We’re really optimistic that he’ll be available should all things go well today and as I said, most importantly, the way he pulls up tomorrow will be a key factor,” McDonald said on Tuesday. “It’s been really impressive the way he’s gone about his recovery. We’ll just wait and see what it looks like in terms of the Netherlands, if Head is fit.”
Travis Head’s return: Mitchell Marsh at No. 3?
Travis Head’s return to partner with David Warner in the opening position would require the current opener, Mitchell Marsh, to shift down to the No. 3 spot, a role he is familiar with.
“He looked good, a bit of range-hitting last night. He says the hand feels good. So, I’m sure if he’s fit, he’ll be available for selection in the team. Very happy to go back down to three. I’ve obviously batted there a lot over the last couple of years, so I feel really comfortable at three,” Marsh said.
Australia had a rough start in the tournament, suffering substantial losses to South Africa and India. However, under the Pat-Cummins led side rebounded with impressive wins in their subsequent two matches against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Currently, Australia occupies the fourth position in the points table with four points. They will aim for another convincing win against the Netherlands to solidify their position.
