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'One more casualty' - Fans react as Australia's star all-rounder reported to be ruled out of ODI World Cup 2023

A major blow for the five-time champions Australia ahead of the 2023 World Cup. Star all-rounder is likely to be ruled out.

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Daniel S
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Australia (Source: Twitter)

Australia's bowling all-rounder Ashton Agar is reportedly ruled out of the 2023 ODI World Cup due to a calf injury. It will be a double blow for the five-time world champions as left-handed batter Travis Head is also likely to be sidelined for the marquee event. Both have been named in the 15-man squad, but Cricket Australia is expected to make a couple of forced changes to their roster on Thursday (September 28), the deadline to confirm the squad.

Agar suffered a minor calf tear while training ahead of Australia's tour of South Africa earlier this month. He had to withdraw from the five-match ODI series and even subsequently missed the recently concluded three-match 50-over series against India. According to The Daily Telegraph, Agar is yet to recover from the injury and is unlikely to seal his spot in the World Cup squad.

"World Cups bring out the best in one-day cricket, particularly in India. You never know what pitch you're going to get. But the chances are as a spinner that you'll be playing, and there's a chance that you play two spinners in a lot of the games, particularly if the pitches get tired," Agar told ESPNcricinfo on August 30.

Australia likely to carry injured Travis Headย 

If Agar is ruled out, then Marnus Labushagne is likely to be included in the squad. Adam Zampa will be the only main spinner in the team, but Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith and Labushagne can do a decent job with the ball.

Meanwhile, the Australian selectors are in a confusion over whether to carry the injured Travis Head through the first phase of the World Cup. The explosive batter fractured his arm during the fourth ODI against South Africa and is expected to recover only by the end of October. The Men in Yellow will kick off their World Cup campaign against India on October 8 in Chennai.

Australia squad for ODI World Cup 2023: Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc.

Here's how fans reacted to reports that Ashton Agar could be ruled out of the 2023 World Cup:

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