Marsh ruled out of World Cup with fractured arm

Peter Handscomb has been whisked into Australia's one-day squad at the pointy end of their World Cup campaign after Shaun Marsh was ruled out for the tournament with a broken arm.

Cricket Australia have confirmed Marsh, who has played two of Australia's eight World Cup games so far, will require surgery after fracturing his right forearm at a brutal training session at Old Trafford.

The 35-year-old copped a nasty blow off a Pat Cummins short ball while batting in the nets on Thursday.

Image Id: 5669AC4FCB964F01B8C27B8F1C9B5D06 Image Caption: Shaun Marsh is escorted out of the nets // Cricket Network

But Australia have been spared a second major blow after confirming Glenn Maxwell, who also injured his right forearm in the exact same net as Marsh only minutes before him, has been cleared of serious damage.

Maxwell went down in pain after a searing delivery from Mitchell Starc reared up on him and struck him, with medical staff converging and escorting him out of the nets.

The Aussies are hopeful he'll be fit to play South Africa on Saturday, but Handscomb will be on hand if he can't recover in time.

Handscomb, who was already in the United Kingdom as part of an Australia A tour, was set to join the Australian squad on Friday morning, local time, and will be available for selection for the Proteas clash on Saturday as well as next week's finals.

"This is obviously shattering news for Shaun and the squad," said coach Justin Langer. "Throughout this tournament, his spirit, professionalism and the way he has competed has been typically outstanding."

"We are right behind Shaun in his recovery and rehabilitation.

"Glenn Maxwell also underwent scans after he was struck on his right forearm in the nets.

Image Id: D760BC5BC3A142739399EA4325EB7D3F Image Caption: Glenn Maxwell reacts after being struck // Cricket Network

"The scans have cleared Glenn of any serious damage and we'll continue to monitor him over the coming days. We are hopeful he will be fit to perform for us on Saturday against South Africa."

It's an unfortunate end to Marsh's campaign, with the left-hander having been unlucky in the first place to have missed most of Australia's games given he'd been their standout 50-over batter during Steve Smith and David's Warner's absences.

Selectors went for Usman Khawaja over Marsh at the start of the World Cup, meaning Marsh's only route into the XI was when Marcus Stoinis was out with a side strain.

Handscomb's familiarity with this iteration of the 50-over side will hold him in good stead, said Langer, should he be required to feature against South Africa, or even in the semi-final or final.

"Pete is a like for like player (for Marsh), in terms of batting in the middle order, and he performed very well for us during our recent tours in India and the UAE," said Langer.

Image Id: E42795EF26624D7C9F029C82C3849486 Image Caption: Peter Handscomb in action against Northants // Kyle Andrews

Selection chair Trevor Hohns labelled Handscomb "desperately unlucky" when he was omitted from the World Cup squad having averaged 43.54 with a strike rate of 98.15 in 13 ODIs this year and hitting his maiden ton against India in February.

The return of Smith ultimately squeezed him out. But Handscomb has continued his good form over to the A tour, putting together knocks of 64, 28 not out and 57 in three innings in 50-over games against county sides over the last two weeks.

His inclusion now also gives Australia a back-up wicketkeeping option, having previously been short in that area behind gloveman Alex Carey.

Handscomb has had his unconventional batting technique dissected in recent stints with the Test side, but recently explained he's made some minor tweaks to ready himself for a recall.

"I've just been playing around with a little bit of a pre-movement to help me be a bit more fluid and get into the ball a lot easier, rather than (being) quite straight-legged and a little bit rigid," Handscomb told cricket.com.au last week.

"I feel it's helped me get forward a bit and also hopefully it will work against a swinging and seaming ball."

2019 World Cup

Australia's squad: Aaron Finch (c), Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

June 1: Australia beat Afghanistan by seven wickets

June 6: Australia beat West Indies by 15 runs

June 9: Australia lost to India by 36 runs

June 12: Australia beat Pakistan by 41 runs

June 15: Australia beat Sri Lanka by 87 runs

June 20: Australia beat Bangladesh by 48 runs

June 25: Australia beat England by 64 runs

June 29: Australia beat New Zealand by 86 runs

July 6: Australia v South Africa, Old Trafford (D/N)

July 9: Semi-Final 1, Old Trafford

July 11: Semi-Final 2, Edgbaston

July 14: Final, Lord's

Sync Australia's World Cup schedule to your calendar HERE

For a full list of all World Cup fixtures, click HERE