TAUNTON, United Kingdom, June 11, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Australia are flying
Mitchell Marsh to England as cover for Marcus Stoinis after his fellow all-
rounder suffered a side strain that ruled him out of Wednesday’s World Cup
match against Pakistan in Taunton.
Stoinis sustained the injury during champions Australia’s 36-run defeat by
India at the Oval on Sunday.
Australia, however, will wait to decide whether to bring in Marsh as a
permanent tournament replacement for Stoinis — a decision that will require
the approval of the World Cup’s event technical committee.
International Cricket Council regulations allow injured players to be
replaced during the World Cup but they cannot then rejoin their squad if they
regain full fitness later on in the tournament.
“Stoinis has a bit of a side strain,” Finch told reporters in Taunton on
Tuesday.
“He won’t be available for tomorrow. So we’re going to have to juggle
around especially that all-rounder spot and have got Mitch Marsh flying over
just as a bit of a precaution.
“(We’re) not exactly sure on how many games he’ll miss,” added Finch.
“It’s still being assessed. Over the next couple of days we’ll have a clearer
picture on what that looks like.
Finch, explaining how Stoinis had been injured, added: “It was towards the
back end of his second spell (against India), and he came back and bowled two
overs at the death.
“He was in some discomfort, it wasn’t ideal, but he still managed to bowl
a couple of overs.”
Stoinis, 29, was out for a duck against India but took two for 62 with his
lively medium pace including a superb and caught bowled to dismiss MS Dhoni.
Marsh was not included in Australia’s original 15-man squad for the World
Cup but is a member of the Australia A side which will begin a tour of
England in the run-up to the Ashes Test series that starts after the one-day
international showpiece event.
“He (Marsh) was meant to fly over with the Australia A side on Friday.
He’s just coming a couple days early as a bit of precaution,” said Finch.”
Australia have two wins from their three World Cup matches so far, having
beaten both Afghanistan and the West Indies before losing to India.
They are now fourth in the table with four points. Pakistan have three
points after a win, a defeat and a no-result washout.
All 10 teams play each other once in the round-robin group stage, with the
top four qualifying for the semi-finals.
New Zealand now lead the standings with six points following three wins
from as many matches.