Australia announce Bangladesh squad with Marsh, Head and Sangha sidelined
Josh Inglis returns to captaincy role as selectors manage player availability for upcoming tour
Australia has confirmed its squads for the upcoming white-ball tour of Bangladesh, a selection that notably excludes key figures Mitch Marsh, Travis Head and Tanveer Sangha. The announcements from Cricket Australia highlight the logistical challenges of managing player availability across formats, with injuries and workload management dictating the composition of the team.
Marsh has been ruled out of the three-match ODI series due to an ankle injury. While he is expected to join the group in Dhaka for the T20I series, his absence from the 50-over leg necessitates a change in leadership. Josh Inglis will captain the ODI side, resuming a role he previously held during recent white-ball assignments against Pakistan.
The exclusion of Head stems from a decision to grant him personal leave for the entire tour, covering both ODI and T20I legs. Australia selector Tony Dodemaide confirmed that the star opener was initially selected for both parts of the tour but was subsequently removed to manage his workload ahead of a demanding Test schedule. This schedule includes series against Bangladesh, South Africa and New Zealand.
Sangha’s absence is definitive, as he will not participate in any part of the tour. Dodemaide confirmed that the spinner sustained a hamstring injury during the second ODI against Pakistan, ending his involvement in the Bangladesh campaign.
The squad changes have opened opportunities for other players, with Todd Murphy receiving his maiden ODI call-up. Ollie Peake and Matt Short retain their places after performing well during the recent Pakistan tour. Dodemaide noted that while Murphy’s inclusion marks a new step in his career, Peake and Short’s retention was a logical continuation of their form.
Despite the high-profile absences, the selectors aim to maintain momentum in the white-ball formats while preserving the core group for the intensifying Test season. Inglis will lead the revised ODI squad, which includes Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Oliver Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Liam Scott, Matt Short and Adam Zampa.
