Australia’s players to miss T20 World Cup 2024 warm-up matches
Australia’s preparations for the T20 World Cup 2024 will begin next week with warm-up matches against Namibia and West Indies at Queens Park Oval in Port of Spain. However, some key players will be missing due to their commitments in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) playoffs.
Due to the IPL playoffs, several Australian stars will miss the warm-up matches. Pat Cummins and Travis Head (Sunrisers Hyderabad), Mitchell Starc (Kolkata Knight Riders), and the Royal Challengers Bangalore duo of Cameron Green and Glenn Maxwell will link up with the team in Barbados closer to the tournament’s start. Their first World Cup match against Oman is on June 5th.
Four of these players and at least one, could play the IPL final on May 26th in Chennai.
Andrew McDonald said that the players will meet the team in Barbados and those who don’t get to the IPL final, will meet the team in Trinidad.
He said that they are trying to prepare the team as best as they can individually and bring it on as a team when they get to Barbados.
The team will have four to five days in Barbados before their first game against Oman.
Focussing on his hamstring recovery, Mitchell Marsh is unlikely to bowl during the practice matches, according to coach McDonald.
Australia has also confirmed its squad for the T20 World Cup 2024. There have been no changes in the preliminary list but Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matt Short have been included in the squad as reserves.
Steve Smith, Jason Behrendroff, and Tanveer Sangha have failed to make it to the final cut of the 15-member squad for the event beginning on June 1.
George Bailey said that in case of injury, it is a challenge to get players at short notice with the tight schedule of the tournament.
He said that Matt provides the squad with an all-round skillset option, while Jake provides further batting cover.
Bailey concluded that both players have exciting talents that can add to the squad if needed. If not, the experience will still be valuable in their respective development journeys at the international level.
Australia is grouped with Oman, England, Namibia, and Scotland in Group B of the tournament. They will play their first match against Oman in Barbados on June 5.
