PAK vs AUS: Mitchell Marsh likely to be out of ODIs after hip-flexor injury

Australia are on the verge of facing a huge setback as all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has injured his hip flexor and is likely to be ruled out of the upcoming ODI series against Pakistan. This will be a huge blow to the Aaron Finch-led side who will already not have the services of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood due to their IPL commitments while Mitchell Starc is not part of the limited-overs leg against Pakistan.

Marsh was one of the standout performers in the title-winning campaign for Australia in the World T20 2021 and has been in really good form in recent times, including the recent BBL season. He was picked up by the Delhi Capitals for INR 6.5 Crores at the mega auction and was set to be available from April 6, but now there will be doubts over it as well. Cameron Green is likely to play the all-rounder’s role in place of Marsh for Australia, while they also have Marcus Stoinis in the squad.

I don’t think Mitchell Marsh will be available for the series: Aaron Finch

Australia’s limited-overs skipper Aaron Finch mentioned Marsh’s injury during training and noted that the 30-year-old is likely to be unavailable for the ODIs looking at the way things have been progressing so far. He added that the injury had crept up while doing a fielding drill when Marsh had bent down to pick up the ball and throw which damaged his hip flexor in the process.

“He’s injured his hip-flexor, we think, at training. We are going to have to wait and see what that looks like but I don’t think he’ll be available for the series based on how he was feeling yesterday,” Finch said in Lahore on Monday as quoted by Cricbuzz.

“He sustained that (injury) in a fielding drill. It was a high intensity, lateral movement drill and he bent down to pick it up one-handed and went to throw and felt a twinge,” he added.

Australia having clinched the three-match Test series 1-0 in Pakistan, will now be looking to win the ODI series which starts on the 29th of March at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.