Dubai: Australia all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has been ruled out of the first ODI against India due to gastritis.
Australia has called up batsman Ashton Turner as cover for Marsh, who has reportedly spent two days in the hospital. The head coach Justin Langer on Thursday confirmed that Marsh would be monitored before deciding on his availability for the final two matches in Adelaide and Melbourne.
Talking about Turner’s ability to finish an innings and his quick running between the wickets, Langer as quoted by ICC, said: “He (Turner) is such a great athlete, it puts so much pressure on the opposition. He can finish the innings off well, an elite athlete in the field and he is also a captain.”
“You see the way he finishes off an innings that he is a good thinker of the game like most of the great finishes and a really good leader, good person around the group. It is a basic skill but we have also been talking about getting players who can finish off innings and he’s shown that in what we can go off in Big Bash cricket, he is in great form,” Langer added.
Turner, who has played three T20Is, has been in good form in the Big Bash League with 40-plus scores this year. The most recent one is an unbeaten 43 off 22 balls against Melbourne Stars, which helped his side Perth Scorchers register a six-wicket win.
Australia and India are slated to play three-match ODI series. The first match will be played on January 12 at Sydney, followed by second on January 15 at Adelaide and third on January 18 at Melbourne.
[source_without_link]ANI[/source_without_link]