Star Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh in all likelihood will miss the imminent Test series in India after owing to an injury on his left ankle. Marsh will miss three months of cricket after undergoing a keyhole surgery to remove loose bone fragments and repair cartilage.
Not just the India series, it could possibly be a triple whammy for the star all-rounder as he will also miss the Big Bash League and the India Premier League 2023.
Marsh plays for Perth Scorchers in BBL who were already jolted with the absence of Phil Salt which will certainly be a major blow to their title defence. Moreover, the 31-year-old might also not feature in the 16th season of the IPL if he fails to recover from the injury. Recently Delhi Capitals retained Marsh ahead of the IPL 2023 mini-auction which is set to be held in Kochi on December 23.
Australian chair of selectors George Bailey said they expect him to be fit for the ODI series against India in March ahead of the World Cup.
"Mitchell is an important member of our squads, and we will support him through his recovery period and we are hopeful he will be available for Australian selection for the ODI series against India in March," Bailey said in a statement.
"In undertaking the surgery now, it gives Mitchell the best chance to recover and resume his all-rounder skillset which is an important part of our plans for the upcoming year and beyond."
Marsh has endured recurring issues of the left ankle, with persistent pain almost curtailing his T20 World Cup campaign on home soil.
Marsh was not selected in Australia's home Test squad to take on the West Indies, but was a travelling member of Australia's most recent tour of Asia, a two-match series against Sri Lanka in July.
Marsh has not played a Test since the 2019 Ashes, though the all-rounder was firming to tour India for Australia's Border-Gavaskar series, a pivotal series in Australia's World Test Championship final push.
Marsh joins fellow all-rounder Glenn Maxwell who will also watch from the sidelines after a freak injury in mid-November.
Maxwell fell and fractured his left fibula in an innocuous fall at a friend's house after Australia's unsuccessful T20 World Cup defence.
Australia will tour India for a four-match Test series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in February-March.
