Mitch Marsh in sad development as Australia rocked at Cricket World Cup
The cricket world has been left stunned at the news from the Aussie camp.
Australia has been dealt a tough blow at the Cricket World Cup with Mitchell Marsh returning home for 'personal reasons' in the middle of the tournament. The Aussies were rocked with some bizarre news on Wednesday when Glenn Maxwell was ruled out of the England clash after hurting himself in a golf accident.
And the news isn't getting any better for the Aussies with all-rounder Marsh returning home to Australia for unknown personal reasons. There is no return date for the all-rounder, but teammate Marcus Stoinis later revealed Marsh sent them a text that he'll be back to "help them win the World Cup."
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"A timeline on his return to the squad is to be confirmed," Cricket Australia said in a statement. While the news is worrying for Marsh, his absence leaves a big hole in the team.
Australia are due to play England on Saturday as they try to secure a top four spot. His departure, alongside that of Maxwell, means Stoinis and Cameron Green could return to the starting line-up.
Both have been lacking in form leading into the World Cup and were left out of the team to face New Zealand. However, Australia's resources have taken a huge hit having lost two starters in just two days.
Fans were quick to wish Marsh well as he deals with the 'personal reasons' that saw him leave potentially his last World Cup in Australian colours.
Glenn Maxwell first and now Mitch Marsh. Australia will go in to the #AusvEng game with a lot of power missing at the top & in the middle but cricket aside thoughts with Marsh as he returns home for “personal reasons” without a confirmed date of return to #CWC23
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) November 2, 2023
Man, it must be something pretty serious if Mitch is walking out of what'll be his last World Cup, in which he is in fantastic form & a critical part of a team with a good chance of going all the way. Sending my love to the Marsh family @MelMarsh14 #CWC23 https://t.co/LkggGMez6i
— Click 🙂 (@ClickCollins) November 2, 2023
Ohhh this is a huge loss for Australia 🇦🇺
— Shehzad Ahmad yousafzai (@CEShehzad123) November 2, 2023
Glenn Maxwell ruled out of England clash at World Cup
Marsh's news comes as Maxwell's freak golfing accident has ruled him out for at least one clash. He is under now concussion protocols for up to eight days after a second freak accident in the past 12 months.
In November last year he broke his leg when he slipped while pretending to chase a friend at a birthday party. Despite the unfortunate mishap, Australia's coach Andrew McDonald said he only expects Maxwell to miss one game.
"He's doing fine, he'll start some light exercises today and we feel as though it will be a reasonably straightforward return to play protocol," McDonald told reporters in Bengaluru.
"I suppose the fortunate part was there was no other injury sustained which could have been a lot worse than it is. It rattled everyone, to be fair, once it came to the conclusion there was a concussion and he was going to miss a game.
"There was nothing untoward in the behaviour throughout the day, it was a clear-cut accident. Unfortunately it has compromised what we are doing as a team."
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