ICC Cricket World Cup 2023: Australia opener Travis Head's return date revealed

Travis Head suffered a fracture on his left hand during Australia's tour of South Africa.

Australia head coach Andrew McDonald has revealed the return date for injured opener Travis Head while conversing with reporters ahead of his side’s ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 opening match against India.

Travis Head had fractured his left hand after he was struck by a Gerald Coetzee short delivery in the fourth ODI against South Africa at SuperSport Park on Friday. When Head was smacked on the left glove while attempting to pull off Coetzee, he was on nine and facing his ninth delivery.

Before continuing to bat, he received treatment from the Australian medical personnel on the pitch. He only faced three more pitches before retiring sick and obviously in pain. After the game, Australia coach Andrew McDonald said that an x-ray taken when he was hospitalized revealed a fracture.

While there were speculations that Travis Head might be replaced in the Australia squad for the World Cup 2023; the selectors kept their faith in the left-hander and named him in the 15-man final squad.

“He'll remain at home training”- Andrew McDonald says an update from Travis Head awaited about his recovery process

Head had been ruled out of the first half of the World Cup 2023 in India and head coach Andrew McDonald gave an update on his possible return date. McDonald said he will continue his preparation training at home, with an update expected within a week.

"We'll get updates from Trav pretty much every day. He's pretty engaged with the group. Official updates, they'll sort of happen, I think it's around sort of the 11th or 12th of October where there'll be another checkpoint with how he's traveling with that sort of bone healing and that'll probably give us a lot more information as to the final timeframes and when he potentially can join the group. Until we get that information then he'll remain at home training and sort of prepping his body as much as he can, back home,” McDonald told reporters, quoted by Cricbuzz.  

It remains to be seen how Australia performs as apart from missing Travis Head, Australia re also facing injury problems with Marcus Stoinis.