ICC World Cup 2023: Australia draft Labuschagne in for Agar, retain Head in squad despite injured hand

Five-time world champions Australia on Thursday became the latest team to make a last-minute change to their squad for the ICC World Cup, bringing in Marnus Labuschagne for injured all-rounder Ashton Agar. Australia have also decided to retain Travis Head in the side despite the southpaw being unavailable for the first half of the tournament due to injury. The Pat Cummins-led side have thus decided to bring in Labuschagne as cover for Head to shore up their batting department, with the South African-born batter replacing Agar, who has been ruled out of the tournament with a calf injury. Labuschagne happens to be the only change to the provisional 15-man group announced by Australia earlier this month as Head keeps his place despite being ruled out for the start of the tournament after breaking his hand. Australia will head to India with just one specialist spinner in Adam Zampa. Fellow leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha will stay with the squad until at least the end of the warm-up matches along with all-rounder Matthew Short.

Australia, here's your squad to take on the ODI World Cup in India starting on October 8!

Congratulations to all players selected 👏 #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/xZAY8TYmcl

— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) September 28, 2023

Labuschagne is rewarded following his rich vein of form in the recent ODI series against South Africa and India, averaging 60 across eight innings while scoring a century and two fifties. He gives Australia extra batting cover in the absence of Head, whose left hand is expected to be in a cast for at least four more weeks. “We have made the decision to carry Travis through the early stages with the aim of him being available around the mid-part of the tournament,” said chief selector George Bailey. “He has been a really important player in this ODI team and we are hopeful his return can provide a positive impetus as it gets to the business end of the tournament.” Agar played a key role in the first ODI against South Africa earlier this month but was ruled out of the next two matches with a calf injury before returning home for the birth of his child. “This was a tough call but unfortunately, we couldn’t carry both Travis and Ashton into the tournament with the injuries they have,” said Bailey. Australia, who last won the title in 2015, play hosts India in their opening game in Chennai on 8 October. Australia updated World Cup squad: Pat Cummins (c), 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. With inputs from AFP