The much anticipated World Cup has started just today with the first match between defending champions England and New Zealand. The match is still on, and it is yet to witness which team emerge as victorious in the opening match of the 2023 World Cup.
While last time World Cup champions and the Black Caps are facing each other today, five time World Cup champions Australia will lock horns with the host country India on October 8 in M.A Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. Fans are waiting excitingly for India’s first match on home ground after 12 years against Australia. However, there are a few players from both the teams whose participation in the big game is still in doubt.
Why is Marcus Stoinis a doubt?
Australia’s all-rounder Marcus Stoinis participation in the opening match against India is still uncertain as he picked up a hamstring niggle last month. Stoinis sustained a hamstring injury during the first match of the ODI series against India in Mohali. Since then, the all-rounder hasn’t played a single game ahead of the World Cup, even the warm-up games.
According to Australia’s head coach McDonald, Stoinis participation will be like a ‘touch and go’. He confirmed that “He certainly hasn’t been ruled out of that (game against India), but we weren’t prepared to risk him in those practice games. McDonald further added that “These next couple of days are really important for him to press for selection for game one, and we’ll see how that unfolds.”
Joining Travis Head on the list
Among the few players who will not be playing the starting matches of the tournament, one such player is Australia’s Travis Head who will be out due to a fractured hand. Despite Travis Head‘s injury, he has been picked up in the squad as the management hopes that the left-hander will recover in time.
If Marcus Stoinis fails to make it up in any of the matches, Cameron Green is likely to replace him making his World Cup debut against India, confirmed McDonald.
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