Four members of the coaching staff, including head coach Andrew McDonald and national selector George Bailey, had to play as substitute fielders during Australia’s T20 World Cup warm-up fixture against Namibia on Tuesday (May 28) due to a shortage of resources.
The sharp turn from the 2024 IPL, which ended on Sunday (May 26), to this year’s T20 World Cup, starting on June 1, left Australia short-handed for their first practice match against Nambia for the upcoming event.
After opting to bowl first, Australia took the field with nine players from their T20 World Cup squad. The rest six – Travis Head, Pat Cummins, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Starc, Glenn Maxwell and Cameron Green – have been given rest after the end of IPL.
Selection chief and former white-ball captain Bailey initially stepped in along with fielding coach Andrew Borovec, a former Victorian wicketkeeper, to complete the playing XI. The duo soon had company in batting coach Brad Hodge and head coach Andrew McDonald when skipper Mitchell Marsh and Josh Hazlewood went off the field.
Australian Head Coach Andrew McDonald and selector George Bailey on the field as substitutes. pic.twitter.com/i9GLsGHdHM
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 29, 2024
Hazlewood, playing his first match in nearly three months, bowled a probing spell, ensuring Namibia didn’t score off his first 19 balls. He finished with 2-5 off his four overs, including three maidens. Adam Zampa (3-25) came in his support to restrict the opponents to 119-9.
Australia made light work of the target and gunned it down in 10 overs with seven wickets remaining. David Warner, returning from a thumb injury that ruled him out of IPL midway through the season, roared back to form with an unbeaten 21-ball 54. His blazing knock comprised six fours and three sixes.
Australia will be again short on resources when they play their next warm-up fixture against West Indies on Thursday (May 30).
Subscribe to the Wisden Cricket YouTube channel for post-match analysis, player interviews, and much more.
