Australia will begin its 2023 ODI World Cup journey in Chennai against India. It will then play two consecutive matches in Lucknow, against South Africa and Sri Lanka. Both venues are known for spin-friendly pitches, but the recent injury of Ashton Agar has left Australia with just one frontline spinner: leggie Adam Zampa. All-rounder Glenn Maxwell will be the second spinner.
Australia will have to choose two players from the trio of Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, and Marcus Stoinis.
Labuschagne, of course, has vaulted into the squad at the last minute as Agar’s replacement, riding on a purple patch that has seen him make 421 runs at an average of 60.14 and a strike rate of 97.67 across eight games against South Africa and India. Considering the anticipated unavailability of Travis Head until the last week of October, it is likely that David Warner will continue opening with Mitchell Marsh, with Steve Smith and Labuschagne at No. 3 and 4.
