Last Updated on 6 months by Charbel Coorey
Travis Head and Adam Zampa are in line for a return in the fourth ODI against England at Lord’s. Both missed the match at Chester-le-Street which Australia lost courtesy of excellent knocks by Harry Brook and Will Jacks.
At the toss in the third ODI, captain Mitch Marsh said “he’s [Travis Head] a bit sore.” Marsh opened the batting with Matt Short, and all-rounder Cameron Green came into the XI.
Andrew McDonald provides update on Travis Head and Adam Zampa ahead of Lord’s ODI
Following the match, coach Andrew McDonald confirmed the star opener should be right to go for the Lord’s clash. “[Head] should be right for the next game. I won’t go into that any further, but he should be ready to go,” said McDonald as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
Head’s presence immediately gives Australia a different look. He smashed 154* off 129 balls at Nottingham before he also looked dangerous at Leeds for his 27-ball 29. In ODIs since the start of 2022, Head has ammassed an 1,307 runs at an incredible average of 62.2 and strike rate of 121.1.
Also crucial to Australia’s team is Adam Zampa. They missed him in the middle overs at Chester-le-Street as Brook and Jacks had their way with the Aussie attack that comprised mostly of seam-bowling all-rounders.
Coach McDonald was not as certain of Zampa’s return at Lord’s. However, he did confirm it was the same illness that has spread through the camp on this tour, which affected Mitchell Starc, Glenn Maxwell and Josh Hazlewood ahead of the first ODI. All three returned for the second match two days later.
“It’s always a different team when Adam Zampa is not there, an incredible performer for us over a long period of time,” McDonald said. “It was a late decision to leave him out [of the third ODI]. Clearly, we’ve had a little bit of illness in the camp, and that’s been well documented. Unfortunately, he was the latest casualty.”
Australia are seeking to return to winning ways after losing their first match in 15 ODIs dating back to the 2023 World Cup. However, the forecast doesn’t look too promising in London with rain expected on Friday as well.
