Australia coach Andrew McDonald has provided an injury update for all-rounder Marcus Stoinis, saying his fitness will be touch and go for their ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 opener against India. Australia will take on hosts India at the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai on October 8.
ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023: Full Coverage
Speaking at a press conference, McDonald said Stoinis has got a hamstring complaint, adding that his fitness will be touch and go for the match against India. Stoinis played the first ODI of the three-match series against India before the World Cup.
“He’s got a slight hamstring complaint at this stage, so that’s why he missed the practice games and he’ll be touch and go for the first game against India,” said McDonald.
He went on to say that the team management will take a call over Stoinis’ availability for their World Cup opener against India. Stoinis has scored 1,400 runs and picked up 44 wickets in 64 ODI matches for Australia.
“We’ve got the main session today and then another hit out tomorrow, so he’ll go through his work there and we’ll see whether he’s available for selection for game one but at the moment he wasn’t fit and available for those practice games,” McDonald added.
McDonald said spin-bowling all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has pulled up really well ahead of the 2023 World Cup. Maxwell scored 77 runs off 71 balls against Pakistan in their second warm-up match.
“Cameron Green got a little bit of time in the middle also and clearly Glenn Maxwell being able to cope with the demands of the game that he played, a significant innings plus being able to back up and bowl as many overs as he did. He has pulled up really well,” said McDonald.
Australia will be looking to win a record-extending sixth World Cup title this year.
