Australia's cricket squad for the upcoming ODI World Cup 2023 faces a significant setback as Ashton Agar has reportedly been ruled out of the mega event hosted by India due to an unresolved calf injury. This injury had previously forced him to miss the T20I series against South Africa.
Left-arm spinner Agar had been named in Australia's provisional World Cup squad but had to return home after just one match against South Africa to attend the birth of his first child. Consequently, he was absent from the ODI series against India which the side lost 2-1.
It is unlikely that Agar will join the Australian white-ball squad in India, with potential replacements including Tanveer Sangha, Marnus Labuschagne, and Matthew Short.
In the meantime, Australian national selectors are grappling with a decision regarding the injured Travis Head. The South Australian cricketer suffered a fractured hand during the fourth ODI against South Africa and is not expected to recover until late October at the earliest.
The selectors face a dilemma as to whether they should retain Head in the final 15-player squad, with the challenge being that if Head is removed, he cannot be added back unless there is an injury. Conversely, if he is included in the squad and remains injured, another player cannot be substituted in his place.
Australia's World Cup journey commences with a match against host nation India at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday, October 8, adding to the complexity of squad decisions.
Australia World Cup squad
Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc.
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