T20 World Cup 2024: Mitchell Marsh to be ruled out? Andrew McDonald provides disturbing update

Australian head coach Andrew McDonald has expressed confidence in the skipper Mitchell Marsh's availability for the entire ICC T20 World Cup 2024, despite his slower-than-anticipated recovery from a hamstring injury that he sustained during the ongoing IPL 2024.

There were reports that the star all-rounder might miss Australia's training camp in Brisbane this week, but the skipper was seen batting in the nets at Allan Border Field on Tuesday, May 7, showing positive progress in his rehabilitation.

Marsh is unlikely to return to bowling due to his recovery from a hamstring injury until the final week before Australia’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad departs for the Caribbean. However, McDonald remains optimistic about Marsh's full fitness by the time of the tournament’s opening game.

You probably won't see him bow...: Andrew McDonald on Mitchell Marsh

However, the Australian all-rounder has been actively batting in the nets during the past two days, but the head coach clarified that his bowling fitness is still a work in progress and he will not be ready to bowl until much closer to the start of the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 on June 1.

Andrew McDonald was quoted as saying by Fox Sports: “It’s good to see him up here. He’s progressing well, probably a little slower than expected on the back of the hamstring (problem), but we’ve got plenty of time now that he’s been ruled out of the IPL. However, you probably won't see him bowl in the next couple of weeks here. It'll probably happen the week before we leave. And then he'll be able to ramp that up when we're over there.

We'll be able to cherry-pick the moments during the tournament where he'll be useful with the ball. We've got some all-round depth in the squad, which gives us good coverage anyway. The first (World Cup) game (against Oman) is just short of a month (away) now, so there’s ample time for him to get ready, but it's really positive to see the skipper on the park. By the first game against Oman (on June 6 in Barbados) we’re confident he’ll be up and running.”

Andrew McDonald opens up on Australia's next plans

McDonald also denied any plans to rest Marsh during the early stages of the ICC tournament. The head coach also confirmed that Australia is likely to select one traveling reserve for the T20 World Cup 2024 squad, but they have not yet decided on the type of player they require as cover for the 15-member squad for the tournament in the USA and Caribbean.

McDonald also backed his senior players to deliver again for Australia in the ICC tournament. Notably, Marsh, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Ashton Agar, and Adam Zampa are the only members of Australia's 15-player squad, who are not currently participating in the ongoing IPL 2024, have started training in Brisbane over the first two days.

Additionally, Aaron Hardie, Tanveer Sangha, Matt Short, Matt Kuhnemann, Xavier Bartlett, and Marnus Labuschagne also participated in the training sessions, but for their county stints.