Travis Head injury opens World Cup door for Marnus Labuschagne

Travis Head’s fractured hand looks all but certain to miss the World Cup, but who will the Aussies turn to to open the batting as the pressure builds. BEN HORNE looks at the likely moves.

Marnus Labuschagne is set for an 11th hour call-up to Australia’s World Cup squad with Travis Head expected to be ruled out of next month’s tournament with a fractured hand.

Head has until September 28 to convince selectors and medical staff he can recover in time for the 50-over showpiece, but the odds are heavily stacked against him after copping a nasty blow facing South African speedster Gerald Coetzee on Friday night in Pretoria.

It is a massive blow for Australia to lose a swashbuckling opener at the top of his game, and a man who can also deliver crucial spin overs in Indian conditions.

However, the silver lining is Labuschagne has been one of Australia’s most in-form batsmen on the South African tour and has two match-winning scores including a hundred under his belt.

Cricket Australia is yet to officially add Labuschagne to its 15-man World Cup squad in place of Head, and won’t until Head has had the chance to seek further scans upon his return to Australia, with ICC rules giving teams until the end of the month to make changes before final squads are locked in.

Australia's Travis Head (2nd R) receives medical treatment during the fourth one-day international (ODI) cricket match between South Africa and Australia at SuperSport Park in Centurion. Picture: AFP

But it has been confirmed Labuschagne will stay on with the Australian squad for a series of ODI warm-up games in India, and that is all but certain to translate into a World Cup call-up as well unless Head can perform a medical miracle.

Matt Short has also been added to the squad for the Indian ODIs as extra cover for Head, while fast bowler Spencer Johnson will also stay with the wider Australian squad in the lead-up to the World Cup as cover.

Aaron Hardie, Michael Neser and Tim David will all depart the Australian squad.

Losing Head will result in significant change to Australia’s top order plans for the World Cup.

Mitchell Marsh will likely replace Head at the top of the order as David Warner’s partner – which he did for Sunday night’s final ODI against South Africa – with Smith to slot back into his favourite position of No. 3 and Labuschagne pencilled in at No.4.

The other possibility might be to try and separate the similar Smith and Labuschagne in the order by opening with Smith, batting Marsh at No. 3 and keeping Labuschagne at No.4.

Are (L-R) Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne too similar to play in the same team? Picture: Phil Hillyard

“At this stage, it’s a confirmed fracture and how long that timeframe is, we’re yet to determine that so fingers crossed clearly with the World Cup fast approaching,” McDonald said.

“I’m not a medical person, but I think it’s a little bit higher up than the actual (index) finger itself. But I don’t know the actual terminology. It’s in a joint somewhere, so I won’t go into the medical specifics. But, yeah, a confirmed fracture and to be assessed again tomorrow with another scan.”

Australia did appear to have reservations about playing Smith and Labuschagne in the same XI, although any hesitancy will be mitigated by the fact Labuschagne is in fine run-scoring touch.

Smith himself said prior to the South African series that he felt Labuschagne’s batsmanship could prove important in a World Cup in India where the wickets could tire and slow down as the tournament goes on, making scoring more difficult.

Perhaps his inclusion will prove a key moment of good fortune.

But there is no other way of digesting Head’s looming omission from the World Cup other than it being a bitter blow.

Head dominated opening the batting in India in the Test matches earlier this year.

Losing Head’s off-spin also puts extra pressure on an Australian side which is already sweating on Glenn Maxwell recovering from an ankle problem.

Maxwell’s spin overs become even more crucial if Head is out.

Originally published as Travis Head injury opens World Cup door for Marnus Labuschagne