Travis Head, who had narrowly missed securing his desired position in the previous event four years ago, is facing a race against time to regain fitness for the upcoming World Cup. This challenge arises following a fractured hand injury he sustained during Australia’s disheartening 164-run loss to South Africa in the fourth ODI.
After the match, Australia’s head coach, Andrew McDonald, disclosed that medical scans had confirmed a fracture in Head’s left hand. This injury occurred when a rising delivery from Proteas fast bowler Gerald Coetzee struck him. Head was forced to retire hurt just two overs later after scoring 17 runs, as Australia was bowled out for 252 at Centurion, responding to South Africa’s imposing total of 5-416.
Travis Head World Cup participation in doubt after hand fracture
Additional scans scheduled for Saturday are anticipated to provide more details about the severity of the fracture. However, with a little over three weeks remaining until Australia’s ODI World Cup opener against India in Chennai on October 8, Head’s participation is now uncertain. Should Head be unable to start the cricket World Cup, Mitch Marsh will likely return to the top of the batting order, while the expected comeback of Cameron Green from a concussion for Sunday’s fifth ODI offers an alternative solution.
