NEW DELHI: Australia's captain Pat Cummins on Wednesday shared an update on left-handed batter Travis Head's recovery from a hand injury, which has sidelined him during the initial phase of the Cricket World Cup 2023.
During a press conference before the match against South Africa in Lucknow, Cummins revealed that Head is scheduled to undergo scans on Thursday to assess the progress of his recovery. After the scans, he will consult with a surgeon, and a decision on his availability for the tournament will be made.
Head was part of the 15-man Australia World Cup squad, but due to the hand injury he sustained during an ODI series against South Africa in September, he did not travel with the team to India. His return to the squad will depend on the results of these assessments and consultations with medical experts.
"I think it's tomorrow he's getting a scan and seeing the surgeon to get an update. So hopefully next couple of days," said Cummins.
Cummins also added that Marcus Stoinis has completely recovered from the hamstring injury that kept him out of action against India in Chennai on Sunday.
Australia faced a challenging 6-wicket loss to India in Chennai in their tournament opener and will be eager to regain their winning momentum. The combination of sweltering weather conditions in Chennai and the formidable partnership of Virat Kohli and KL Rahul proved to be a formidable challenge for Australia.
Despite a promising start from their fast bowlers, who managed to dismiss three of India's top four batters in just two overs, their spinners, notably Adam Zampa, struggled to make an impact when it was most needed, and India secured the victory with six wickets to spare.
On the other hand, South Africa commenced their World Cup campaign with a dominant 102-run triumph over Sri Lanka in Delhi. South Africa set a new record by amassing 428/5, the highest-ever total in a World Cup match.
This remarkable feat was achieved thanks to outstanding centuries from Quinton de Kock, Rassie van der Dussen, and Aiden Markram, who scored the fastest century in ODI World Cups, accomplishing it in just 49 balls. This achievement surpassed Kevin O'Brien's 50-ball century against England in Bengaluru during the 2011 World Cup.
South Africa's bowlers also excelled, taking all 10 Sri Lankan wickets within 45 overs and ensuring their team's convincing victory.
(With IANS inputs)
