Australian captain Mitchell Marsh has been declared fit for their opening match at the T20 World Cup, though he will not be bowling, as confirmed by coach Andrew McDonald.
According to details, Marsh, who sustained a hamstring injury in April during the Indian Premier League, recently made his return in two practice matches in Trinidad.
Marsh participated in the warm-up games against Namibia and the West Indies, scoring 18 and 4 runs, respectively, but did not field for the full innings in either game. McDonald indicated that while Marsh is building confidence, his return to bowling remains uncertain. "The second part is just when the bowling comes back online ... it won't be the first game," McDonald told cricket.com.au.
Officially appointed T20 captain last month, Marsh will lead Australia in their opening match against Oman on June 6 in Barbados. Despite limited time on the field, his recovery remains the primary concern for an otherwise fit 15-man squad. Key players Pat Cummins, Travis Head, Mitchell Starc, Glenn Maxwell, and Cameron Green, who missed the warm-ups due to IPL commitments, will join the team in Barbados.
"We feel as though we have plenty of time to bring that group together," McDonald added, expressing confidence in the squad's preparation and familiarity. The team aims to add the T20 title to their one-day and Test world championships.