Cricket World Cup 2023: Australian captain, Pat Cummins, has issued an update on opener Travis Head, disclosing that Head, currently recuperating from a fractured hand at home, is scheduled for scans on Thursday.
Australia’s captain Pat Cummins has given an update regarding the healing process of Travis Head from a hand injury, which has sidelined him for the initial part of the Cricket World Cup 2023 in India. Although Head was enlisted in the 15-member Australian World Cup squad, he has not journeyed to India with his teammates as he is in recovery from a hand injury incurred during an ODI series against South Africa in September.
Cummins mentioned that Head is due to have scans on Thursday to gauge the level of his recovery and will engage with a surgeon before determining his availability.
“Yeah, no update. I believe it’s tomorrow he’s having a scan and consulting the surgeon to get an update. So, hopefully, in the next couple of days,” Cummins articulated while speaking to the media ahead of Australia’s pivotal match against South Africa in Lucknow. Australia’s World Cup campaign commenced disappointingly, being defeated by 6 wickets after setting a modest target of 199 for host nation, India.
Head suffered a fractured hand after being hit by a short delivery from Gerald Coetzee at SuperSport Park during an ODI against South Africa last month. Despite the grave nature of the injury, jeopardising his involvement in the initial phases of the World Cup, Head was still selected in Australia’s final squad for the tournament.
Including Head in the squad was a considered decision. Ashton Agar, a left-arm spinner who was part of the initial 15-member squad, was excluded due to a calf injury that failed to recover timely, facilitating Head’s inclusion despite his injury. The Australian selectors, under the leadership of George Bailey, perceived Head to be too vital to Australia’s title ambitions to exclude him.
Head selector George Bailey recognised the difficulties of accommodating both Head and Agar in the tournament in light of their respective injuries. Nonetheless, he remains hopeful that a concentrated rehabilitation period… For Head, the strategy was to shepherd him through the early phases with the aim of being available approximately midway through the tournament. Bailey accentuated Head’s significance in the ODI team and is hopeful that his comeback could instil a positive momentum as the tournament approaches its crucial phases.
Furthermore, Cummins confirmed that Marcus Stoinis has fully recovered from the hamstring injury that prevented him from participating against India in Chennai on Sunday.
