World Cup 2019: Mark Waugh picks Usman Khawaja and Marcus Stoinis’ replacement for the semis

Australia lost their last league match against South Africa by 10 runs at the Old Trafford in Manchester. Owing to the defeat, Aaron Finch and Co were dethroned from the top of the points table. The Men in Yellow will now lock horns with hosts England in the second semi-final on July 11 at the Edgbaston in Birmingham. Ahead of the game, the Aussies have more reasons to worry.

In the last game, a couple of their players — Usman Khawaja and Marcus Stoinis — developed injuries. During the run-chase, Khawaja had to retire hurt because of a hamstring strain, though he came to bat in the latter stage of the innings. He is more or less out of the tournament. On the other hand, Stoinis felt pain on his right side after missing a couple of games earlier in the tournament.

Matthew Wade and Mitchell Marsh have been called upon as covers for the injured duo. Previously, even Shaun Marsh was ruled out due to a broken arm and was replaced by Peter Handscomb. Glenn Maxwell was hit by a vicious delivery from Mitchell Marsh, but fortunately, he has been able to take the field. Ahead of their next encounter, Australia has to put on their thinking hats.

Mark Waugh picks his players

In the league stage, Finch’s men defeated the Three Lions by 64 runs at the Lord’s and the team can take heart from that victory. In the meantime, Mark Waugh, the former Australian cricketer, reckons that Wade should get a chance in the upcoming match ahead of Handscomb as he is more equipped to play the English pacers. Moreover, he also picked Mitchell Marsh as Stoinis’ replacement.

The legendary Aussie cricketer took to Twitter and wrote, “My team would be Wade in for Uzzie and M.Marsh for Stoinis. Handscomb is unlucky but I feel Wade is slightly better equipped to handle the pace and bounce of the English quick bowlers and reports are he is smashing em Smith 3 or 4 doesn’t really bother me too much,”

Here is Waugh’s tweet