Marnus Labuschagne Replaces Ashton Agar In Last-Minute Changes To Australia's World Cup Squad

Australia World Cup Squad: Despite Travis Head being unavailable for the initial part of the tournament, he has been named in the side in which Marnus Labuschagne has replaced Ashton Agar.

Marnus Labuschagne in action during the ODI series against India ahead of the World Cup.

In a strategic move to bolster their World Cup squad, Australia has decided to carry the injured Travis Head through the first part of the tournament. Head, who recently suffered a fractured hand during a match against South Africa, has been included in the final 15-player squad. However, he won't be available for the initial matches of the tournament due to his injury.

Fortunately, Head's injury doesn't require surgery, which has given the Australian team confidence that he will recover in time to contribute later in the round-robin stage. Considering his potential value to Australia's chances in the tournament, the team has made the decision to go ahead with 14 available players initially.

Australia, here's your squad to take on the ODI World Cup in India starting on October 8!

Congratulations to all players selected 👏 #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/xZAY8TYmcl

— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) September 28, 2023

In a related development, Australia has introduced an extra layer of batting cover by including Marnus Labuschagne in the squad. This decision comes at the expense of Ashton Agar, who has been ruled out due to a calf injury.

The addition of Marnus Labuschagne is seen as a strategic move to fortify Australia's batting lineup, especially in the absence of Travis Head during the early part of the competition. Labuschagne's recent form and adaptability in various formats of the game make him a valuable asset to the team.

Ahead of their World Cup opener against India on October 8, the five-time champions will take on the Netherlands at the Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram on September 30 and Pakistan at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad on October 3 in warm-up matches.

Australia's 15-member squad for World Cup:

Pat Cummins (Captain), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa.