Skipper marsh

T20 World Cup: Australia faces another injury blow as skipper Mitchell Marsh missed the campaign opener against Ireland on Wednesday after sustaining a direct blow to the groin during training earlier this week, which caused internal testicular bleeding.

Travis Head is leading the side against Ireland in Marsh's absence, as he did in the first T20 in Pakistan last month, with his fellow opener requiring a period of rest and rehabilitation.

Reacting to the injury, standby player Steve Smith, who last featured in T20Is in February 2024 but remains a mainstay in Australia’s Test side, has been called in to travel to Sri Lanka. Smith will acclimatise and be ready to step in if needed.