Australia batsman Shaun Marsh has been ruled out of the remainder of the World Cup with a fractured forearm, Cricket Australia confirmed on Friday, July 5. Wicketkeeper-batsman Peter Handscomb, who had narrowly missed out on selection earlier, has been named as his replacement, ESPN reports.
Shaun Marsh is out of the World Cup with a fractured forearm after the Australian batsmen endured a brutal net session at Old Trafford. He was struck by a ball from Pat Cummins while batting at Old Trafford two days before Australia's final round-robin match against South Africa.
The 35-year-old veteran got hit on his forearm by pacer Pat Cummins in the nets at Old Trafford and was sent for scans immediately which revealed the fracture.
"Shaun Marsh has had scans on his right forearm after being struck while practicing in the nets at training today," Head Coach Justin Langer said. "Unfortunately, the scans have revealed Shaun has suffered a fracture to his forearm which will require surgery. This is obviously shattering news for Shaun and the squad. Throughout this tournament, his spirit, professionalism and the way he has competed has been typically outstanding."
Marsh wasn't the only batsman to suffer a blow to the arm at Australia's training session. In the same net, Glenn Maxwell was hit on the right forearm by a short ball from Mitchell Starc. Both batsmen aborted their net sessions and went for scans immediately. But unlike Marsh, Maxwell has been cleared of any serious damage and Australia are likely to take a late call on his availability for their final round-robin clash.
"Glenn Maxwell also underwent scans after he was struck on his right forearm in the nets," Langer further added. "The scans have cleared Glenn of any serious damage and we'll continue to monitor him over the coming days. We are hopeful he will be fit to perform for us on Saturday against South Africa."
Langer continues, "We have made the decision to call up Peter Handscomb to replace Shaun in our World Cup Squad of 15. Pete is a like-for-like player, in terms of batting in the middle order, and he performed very well for us during our recent tours in India and the UAE."
Peter Handscomb will replace Marsh in Australia's squad. Handscomb is already in England with the Australia A team that is touring the country concurrently and is set to join up with the World Cup squad on Friday.
Handscomb was in very good touch earlier this year just before the World Cup with the highlight being a century in Mohali against India in a tall run chase.
But with David Warner and Steven Smith returning from their suspensions, Handscomb was the unlucky one to miss out with the selectors preferring just a solitary specialist wicketkeeper in Alex Carey.
The 28-year-old is already in England as part of the Australia A squad and is expected to join the senior set-up in time for the South Africa clash on July 6 which will then be followed by a semifinal against either New Zealand or England.
Handscomb narrowly missed out on a spot in Australia's original World Cup squad, showing impressive form in the lead-up to the tournament but having to make way for the returns of Steven Smith and David Warner from their ball-tampering bans.
