Australia further weakened ahead of Bangladesh ODIs as Travis Head granted leave

Australia’s second‑string squad for the three‑match ODI series against Bangladesh has been further depleted after Cricket Australia (CA) granted personal leave to opener Travis Head. His absence compounds the team’s problems, with Mitchell Marsh already sidelined due to injury.

Marsh is nursing an ankle injury sustained during his IPL stint with Lucknow Super Giants, which also kept him out of the recently concluded ODI series in Pakistan, a series Australia lost 2‑1.

Leg‑spinner Tanveer Sangha has also been ruled out after suffering a hamstring injury during the Pakistan ODIs. Off‑spinner Todd Murphy has been called up as his replacement, marking Murphy’s maiden ODI selection.

The selectors have named Matt Short and Ollie Peake as replacements for Head and Marsh in the ODI squad. Head, who missed the Pakistan tour due to his IPL commitments with Sunrisers Hyderabad, was initially picked for both the ODI and T20I legs of the Bangladesh series. 

However, CA has now granted him leave for the entire tour. His replacement for the T20I series, beginning June 17 in Chattogram, is yet to be named. CA has emphasised Head’s importance as an all‑format player and granted him extended rest to manage his workload.

“Travis was initially selected in the ODI and T20I legs of this Bangladesh tour but has subsequently been granted personal leave for both,” national selector Tony Dodemaide was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo. “We look forward to seeing him again for the top-end Test series against Bangladesh.”

Josh Inglis will continue to lead Australia in the ODI series and may also captain the T20I side if Marsh fails to recover in time.

Australia’s ODI Squad for Bangladesh

Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis (c), Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Todd Murphy, Oli Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Liam Scott, Matt Short, Adam Zampa

Australia’s T20I Squad for Bangladesh

Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Joel Davies, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Matthew Kuhnemann, Riley Meredith, Josh Philippe, Matthew Renshaw, Adam Zampa