The Australian cricket team's captain, Pat Cummins, provided an injury update regarding their opener, Travis Head, as his side prepares to face South Africa in Lucknow on Thursday (October 12).
Head suffered a left-hand fracture during the fourth ODI against the Proteas just before the World Cup and is set to undergo a scan to determine the extent of his injury, as confirmed by Cummins on Wednesday.
Despite the injury and no confirmed return date, Head was included in Australia's World Cup squad due to his importance to the team
“Yeah, no update. I think it’s tomorrow he’s getting a scan and seeing the surgeon to get an update. So hopefully next couple of days,” Cummins said.
The 30-year-old then discussed the intense rivalry between the five-time World champions and South Africa, emphasizing that the two sides always compete fiercely.
“Yeah, it’s another team that I feel like we play quite a lot against, which creates a bit of rivalry. I also always find with South Africa; we always match up quite similarly. They’ve always got some fast bowlers and some batters that take the game on, maybe a leg spinner. So, it always feels like it’s a clash of two very similar teams. So yeah, no doubt it will be another great game tomorrow,” Cummins added.
It must be noted that Australia faced a six-wicket defeat in their tournament opener against India on October 8.
During the match, the entire Australian batting lineup returned to the pavilion after managing just 199 runs on the tricky wicket of Chennai.
However, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc provided their side early breakthroughs by dismantling the top order of the home side as they had lost three wickets for two runs in the first two overs.
Nevertheless, a match-winning 165-run partnership between Virat Kohli and KL Rahul shattered Australia's hopes of defending the low total.
Australia squad for World Cup 2023:
Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Sean Abbott, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc.
- Pat Cummins