Australia batter Travis Head set to miss first half of ODI World Cup 2023 due to fracture

The Australian middle order batter Travis Head, was struck in the left glove by a short delivery from Protea pacer Gerald Coetzee in the fourth ODI against South Africa. He broke his finger while playing that delivery. Head will fly back to Australia on Monday for further medical tests.

He will be missing the upcoming ODI series against India. According to the reports by the Aussie head coach Andrew McDonald, the explosive white-ball cricketer, is also set to miss the first half of the ODI World Cup, which is just less than 18 days left for the start of the mega event.

He(Travis Head) doesn't require surgery: Andrew McDonald

The 42-year-old coach said, "The timeframe is still a bit lose at the moment but the good news is he doesn't require surgery as it sits at the moment. There will be an extended period of time out and we've just got to weigh up whether that time (out) falls with an option to carry him through the front half of the World Cup."

"There's no doubt he won't be available for the front half, so that's a decision we'll have to make for the final 15. But I can't give you an exact time frame. I can't talk on behalf of the selection panel and lock him away in the World Cup 15 but it's no doubt looking likely."

"He's made a significant shift in his intent at the crease and putting the bowlers under pressure (more) than he was potentially 12 months ago. He's struck at around 100 strike-rate in this series. We know Marnus is a quality player and he probably didn't have the 12-18 months in one-day cricket that he would have liked.

The former cricketer further added, "But he's no doubt taken that opportunity with both hands and there's no doubt he'll be front and centre when it comes to that 15-man squad down the track." He joins the elite list of Australian players who are injured ahead of the World Cup. With the likes of Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Glenn Maxwell and Cameron Green.