Australia has been dealt a significant blow as all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has been ruled out of the ICC CWC 2023 for an indefinite period.

Marsh has had to return home due to personal reasons, and his comeback for the remainder of the tournament, as it progresses toward the knockout stages, remains uncertain.

Cricket Australia, in an official statement, has stated that there is no confirmed timeline for his return to the squad.

This setback compounds Australia’s challenges as they’ve already lost the services of Glenn Maxwell for their upcoming match against England on November 4 due to his concussion from a golf-related incident.

The absence of Marsh is a substantial setback for the Australian team as they strive to secure a spot in the semi-finals.

To replace Maxwell and Marsh for the match against England, players like Alex Carey, Sean Abbott, Marcus Stoinis, and Cameron Green are being considered.

If Marsh is unable to participate for the rest of the tournament, Australia may need to seek approval from the Event Technical Committee to fly in a replacement player. Currently, Tanveer Sangha is the sole traveling reserve with the squad.

In the ongoing World Cup, Mitchell Marsh has contributed significantly, amassing 225 runs at an average of over 37 and claiming two wickets. His standout batting performance was a remarkable 121 against Pakistan in Bengaluru.