Australian Captain Mitchell Marsh Provides Critical Bowling Fitness Update Ahead Of ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024

The T20 World Cup 2024 is just around the corner, and the reigning TEST and ODI champions Australia will be led by star all-rounder Mitchell Marsh. Cricket Australia announced the 15-member squad that will travel to the West Indies and the USA for the showpiece event on May 1. Ahead of the World Cup, Australia is in a spot of bother as skipper Mitchell Marsh is recovering from a hamstring injury. The Australian captain last played a game for Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2024 season on April 3. In a huge relief, Mitchell Marsh has confirmed that his recovery from hamstring injury "is on track" despite taking longer than expected. However, Marsh admits he will need a little bit of time before he can start bowling once again, as he can't afford a setback just before Australia's first World Cup match against Oman in Barbados on June 6.

Australian captain Mitchell Marsh provides critical bowling fitness update

In a massive relief for Australia, skipper Mitchell Marsh has confirmed that his recovery from hamstring injury "is on track" despite taking longer than expected. However, Marsh admits he can't afford a setback just before Australia's first World Cup match against Oman in Barbados on June 6. Marsh, who last played a game for Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2024 season on April 3, flew to Perth on April 12 for his initial recovery with Australian team physiotherapist Nick Jones.

"It's been progressively slow, but I'm finally getting there now and looking forward to getting stuck into the tournament. Initially, we thought it was a three-weeker, but with tendons, they can take a little bit longer, and you've sort of got to go on feel. Once I was ruled out of the IPL, we've certainly taken our time to get right. And I feel lucky that I've had that bit of extra time, a little bit of time at home to refresh," Mitchell Marsh said.

Ahead of their first warm-up match against Namibia, Australia's skipper, Mitchell Marsh explained the nature of his injury and assured the fans that he is well on track to recover fully ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and the USA. Skipper Marsh will likely feature in Australia's first warm-up game against Namibia on Wednesday in Trinidad. 

"Probably still a little while off. I'll start bowling, hopefully soon. Get through these practice games as a batter, and then we'll ramp it up. But it's one of the beauties of being captain now. I don't have to bowl myself. We're lucky that we've got so many options with the ball and so much talent, Stoin (Marcus Stoinis) and Greenie (Cameron Green), and we've got a lot of options. So, all our planning, it allows me to be really clear on that. I'll bowl when I need to bowl, but outside that, it's always team first," Marsh added.

The 2021 T20 World champions have another warm-up encounter on Friday against the West Indies. The 32-year-old said he will play as a specialist batter in the warm-up matches as he needs more time to get back to bowling. However, he isn't too concerned, as he has the support of two seam-bowling all-rounders, Marcus Stoinis and Cameron Green.