A sixth eye
On 20 November 2024, Japan hosted a gathering of senior enlisted members from the Five Eyes intelligence partnership in Tokyo.
Marcus Stoinis will travel with Australia to Nottingham — Australia’s venue for the June 20 game against Bangladesh — and there a final call would be made whether the injured all-rounder would remain in the squad for the rest of the World Cup or not.
Stoinis, who is suffering from a side strain, had to miss Australia’s last game against Pakistan. This resulted in the team management flying in Mitchell Marsh. The 29-year-old has also been sidelined for Saturday’s game against Sri Lanka at The Oval.
However, to Australia’s respite, the right-hander batted in the Oval nets on Friday despite having a side strain which is preventing him from bowling. Keeping his injuries apart, Stoinis has not been able to click in the campaign so far (19 runs at 19.5 and four wickets at 29.5) in the three matches he has played.
Advertisement
Skipper Aaron Finch showed confidence on Mitchell, who is on standby and has begun training with the squad in case he is drafted into the official squad in place of Stoinis.
“Yeah, that’s why he (Marsh)’s here … but as a bit of a precaution more than anything, if Stoinis doesn’t recover well enough over the next couple of days,” Finch was quoted as saying by Sydney Morning Herald.
“There is confidence that Mitch will come in and do well if selected if Stoinis doesn’t recover properly,” he added.
Australia are currently placed at the third spot with six points from four games. New Zealand top the table with 7 points and England seconds them with 6 points in 4 matches each.
Stoinis’ injury has left the World Cup XI of the Aussies imbalanced and selectors unable to settle on what they had hoped would be their best side.
Advertisement
