Australia Makes Final Adjustments to World Cup Squad: Marnus In, Agar Out

Pat Cummins’ team made a significant change to their World Cup squad. Travis Head, despite a hand injury, will remain part of the team for the early stages of the tournament. The 15-player squad for the 50-over competition starting on October 5 has been finalized, with Marnus Labuschagne replacing Ashton Agar as the only change from the preliminary squad announced earlier this month.

Here’s the updated Australia World Cup squad: 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.

This means Australia will enter the World Cup in India with just one specialist spinner, Adam Zampa, but allrounder Glenn Maxwell has proven his capability as a support spinner. Matt Short and leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha will remain with the squad until at least the conclusion of the warm-up matches.

Travis Head’s hand injury, which will be in a cast for at least four more weeks, means Australia will effectively have a 14-man squad in the opening stages of the tournament. National selectors consider him essential to Australia’s World Cup chances and plan to carry him through the early matches with the aim of having him available midway through the tournament.

Head had been in excellent form, securing his spot at the top of the order alongside David Warner with 481 runs at an average of 60 in the past nine months.

Marnus Labuschagne’s inclusion is due to his outstanding performance in the last eight matches after being omitted from the preliminary squad. He has been Australia’s top run-scorer with 421 runs at an average of 60 and has improved his ODI strike rate from 74.9 in the past two years to 97.7 in his past eight matches.

Ashton Agar was left out due to limited cricket this year, having played only four competitive matches since the KFC BBL in January. He played a crucial role with the bat in the first ODI in South Africa but missed the next two matches due to a calf injury and returned home for the birth of his first child.

Australia will have two warm-up matches against the Netherlands on September 30 and Pakistan on October 3 before their World Cup opener against India on October 8 in Chennai.

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