T20 World Cup 2024: IPL Playoffs force Australian players to head to World Cup without practice matches
Published - 21 May 2024, 02:25 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:12 AM
Australian head coach Andrew McDonald stated that players currently in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 playoffs will skip warm-up matches in the upcoming T20 World Cup. Andrew McDonald said that the other players will gather in Trinidad, where they will play warm-up matches.
Pat Cummins, Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, and Mitchell Starc are representing their franchises in the IPL 2024. The knockout matches are set to be played from May 21 to May 26. MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai and Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad will host the playoffs.
The Mitchell Marsh-led team will play warm-up matches against Namibia and the West Indies ahead of the World Cup. The two matches will be played at Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain in Trinidad on May 28 and May 30, respectively. They will miss several key players for these two games.
They'll Meet Us In Barbados - Andrew McDonald
Andrew McDonald said that players involved in the IPL finals will join the team in Barbados, while those not in the finals will meet in Trinidad. McDonald stated that they are trying to tailor the best individual preparation before uniting the team in Barbados.
"They'll have a staggered entry now that they've made the finals – they'll meet us in Barbados, and the guys who aren't in the IPL finals, will meet us in Trinidad," McDonald said.
"We're just trying to tailor the best individual preparation and bring it together as a team when we get to Barbados, then we have four or five days there leading into the first game against Oman," he further added.
The Australian head coach confirmed that Mitchell Marsh, who is recovering from a hamstring injury, will not bowl in the warm-up matches. Marsh missed most of the IPL to ensure his fitness for the T20 World Cup. The all-rounder will lead the Australian team in the upcoming World Cup.
Australia Schedule For 2024 T20 World Cup
Australia, the 2021 T20 World Cup champions, have been placed in Group B for the 2024 edition of the tournament. England, Namibia, Scotland, and Oman are in their group. The Men in Yellow will be optimistic about finishing in the top two in the table and advancing to the Super Eight stage.
Cricket Australia has named Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matt Short as traveling reserves for the World Cup. Fraser-McGurk scored 330 runs in nine matches at a remarkable strike rate of 234.04. However, the stiff competition in the batting lineup prevented his inclusion in the final squad.
| Match Number | Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Match 10 | June 5 | Australia vs Oman | Barbados |
| Match 17 | June 8 | Australia vs England | Barbados |
| Match 24 | June 11 | Australia vs Namibia | Antigua & Barbuda |
| Match 35 | June 15 | Australia vs Scotland | St. Lucia |
Australia's final T20 World Cup squad: Mitch Marsh (c), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa.
Travelling reserves: Jake Fraser-McGurk, Matt Short
