Star all-rounder Marcus Stoinis was a late exclusion from Australia’s second T20 World Cup warm-up game on Friday morning (AEST) after losing his cricket kit.
Australia were already undermanned for their fixture against tournament co-hosts West Indies, with coaching and selection staff having to make up the numbers in the field for a second time.
But they lost another one when Stoinis lost his bats, pads, and the rest of his kit bag, according to Cricket Australia’s Louis Cameron.
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“A further blow for the Aussies with Marcus Stoinis unable to play tonight’s match after his playing gear got lost in transit in Miami,” Cameron said just ahead of the first ball.
Fielding coach Andre Borovec joined his players in the field for the second time in two matches, even dropping a high ball — somewhat ironically, given his role — from Nicholas Pooran.
Chief selector George Bailey also made his second appearance in the field, taking the catch that eventually dismissed Pooran, who smashed a blinding 75 from just 25 balls.
Pooran hit his first three balls for six before going on to smoke eight maximums and five boundaries.
On Wednesday (AEST), Australia named only nine players for their Trinidad clash with Namibia, with six members of the squad granted some time off following IPL campaigns.
It made for extraordinary scenes as the Test and ODI world champions began preparations for another trophy charge by fielding four members of their support staff, all aged over 40, in the unofficial fixture.
“Australia’s T20 World Cup is about to begin in bizarre fashion,” Cricket Australia’s Louis Cameron said.
“Their IX (not a typo) is fielding first in a warm-up match against Namibia in Trinidad. George Bailey and Andre Borovec will make up the numbers in the field.”
At one stage chief selector and ex-Australian batting George Bailey, coach and former Test allrounder Andrew McDonald, batting coach and former Test gun Brad Hodge and fielding coach and former first-grade wicketkeeper Andre Borovec were all on the field.
Borovec and Hodge, who turns 50 in December, hung on to catches and McDonald earned applause for a diving stop in the outfield as Australia restricted world No.14 Namibia to 8-120 at Queen’s Park Oval.