Australia vs Ireland LIVE: Smith to fly to Sri Lanka after Marsh ruled out of Cup opener

Before Marsh’s injury news broke, Geoff Lawson penned this column about Smith:

Australia’s Twenty20 World Cup preparations have shades of England’s Ashes disaster unless selectors are willing to admit they have got it wrong and send an SOS for champion batsman Steve Smith.

English management gambled and lost spectacularly in electing to bypass any competitive matches in Australia ahead of their Ashes tour. Instead, they played three one-dayers against New Zealand across the Tasman, losing all convincingly. These monumental errors of judgment were not only highlighted in hindsight – they were recognised contemporaneously in sharp focus. The results would surprise no one outside the England inner circle.

Get him now: Steve Smith is the form batsman of spin bowling in the world, but is not part of Australia’s Twenty20 World Cup squad in the subcontinent.Credit: Getty Images

The Ashes caravan has moved on and, with barely time to take a breathless pant, the international calendar turns the page to the T20 World Cup.

Australia appears to have taken a sneaky glance at England’s manual for this tournament.

It was terrific to watch the three-match “warm up” series against Pakistan not because of Australia’s successive record-breaking defeats but to see Gaddafi Stadium filled to the rafters (if it had any) with a rugged-up Punjabi crowd enjoying their hot teas and hotter team. Pakistan played great, Australia played like they just arrived from Mars.

The idea was that a short, sharp series was ideal, up against an excellent opposition in conditions that would most reflect those that would be encountered during the tournament, played in front of a hostile crowd.

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Australia will fly Steve Smith to Sri Lanka amid doubts about captain Mitch Marsh’s availability for the Twenty20 World Cup after the captain suffered a serious blow to the groin in training.

Marsh will miss tonight’s opening game against Ireland and may yet be ruled out of the event entirely after scans showed signs of internal testicular bleeding.

Steve Smith and Mitch Marsh.Credit: AP

“Mitchell Marsh will miss the opening match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup after sustaining a direct blow to the groin during training earlier this week,” said a Cricket Australia spokesperson. “He is experiencing ongoing pain and discomfort which is restricting his movement.

“Scans have confirmed internal testicular bleeding, and he will require a period of rest and rehabilitation. His return to play will be guided by symptom resolution and medical advice.

“Standby player Steve Smith will travel to Sri Lanka as cover to acclimatise and prepare, should he be required.”

Smith was controversially omitted from the squad for the Cup despite some stunning displays in recent editions of the Big Bash League, but remained in Australia on standby.

Travis Head will captain Australia in Marsh’s absence.

Australia have received a boost to their T20 World Cup hopes while hosts Sri Lanka will have to cope with the loss through injury of their key spinner Wanindu Hasaranga.

The 28-year-old Hasaranga, one of the most prolific wicket-takers in the T20 Games, was ruled out ​of the rest of the tournament on Tuesday because of a hamstring proble, the International Cricket Council confirmed on Tuesday.

Wanindu Hasaranga of Sri Lanka celebrates a wicket against Australia in a one day international last February.Credit: Getty Images

Hasaranga had an MRI scan on Monday that showed up a serious left-hamstring tear.

That’s a huge blow for ‍the co-hosts, especially after he’d picked up the injury while making a decisive contribution to their first-match win with his excellent 3-25 in the 20-run victory over Ireland on Sunday.

He had been a potential thorn in Australia’s side for their clash in Kandy next Monday, which could well prove a decisive one in group B.

In 13 white-ball matches against Australia, Hasaranga has taken 21 wickets at an average of 13.45, including a best of 4-33 in an international in Colombo back in 2022.

In T20 World Cups, he’s taken 40 wickets, with a terrific economy rate of just over six an over.

Hasaranga, fifth on the all-time list of most T20 international wickets ​with ​154, will be replaced in the squad by bowling allrounder Dushan Hemantha.

It’s a further blow for the hosts, having already lost ​fast bowler Eshan Malinga after he dislocated his shoulder.

Sri Lanka play their next group match against outsiders Oman in Kandy on Thursday, while Australia open up their campaign against Ireland in Colombo on Wednesday.

AAP

Hello and welcome to our T20 World Cup live blog as Australia begins their campaign against Ireland in Colombo. I’m Daniel Brettig and I’ll be taking you through tonight’s match.

We will have all the action and some post match reaction with play set to start at 8.30pm AEDT.

The tournament is being broadcast on Amazon Prime.

Enjoy the action to come.