Australia will begin their white-ball tour of Bangladesh without several senior players including Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head. The selectors have confirmed that several key stars are unavailable due to injury concerns and workload management plans, leaving the visitors with a weakened squad for the series.
The series between Australia and Bangladesh will begin with the first ODI on June 9, 2026, at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur. The remaining ODIs will be played at the same venue on June 11 and 14, before both teams travel to Chattogram for the T20I series starting on June 17.
Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh will not be able to play in the opening ODI against Bangladesh: Report
According to Code Sports, Australia will be without senior batsmen Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh for the opening ODI against Bangladesh, although both have been included in the squad. The team management has been forced to adjust its plans due to availability and fitness concerns.
Head may miss the entire three-match ODI series after his IPL 2026 campaign with Sunrisers Hyderabad. Meanwhile, Marsh is recovering from an ankle injury which also kept him out of the ODI series in Pakistan. However, officials are hopeful that he will be available for the tour later.
Ollie Peake and Matt Short have been asked to stay with the team in Bangladesh. Both players were originally expected to leave after the Pakistan series, which Australia lost 2–1.
Josh Inglis to lead Australia during Bangladesh tour
Josh Inglis will lead Australia during the white-ball tour of Bangladesh, with regular captain Pat Cummins unavailable for the series. The selectors have rested several senior players as part of their workload management plan.
Inglis recently led the Australian team in the three-match ODI series against Pakistan. The Australian team will reach Dhaka on Friday evening and start preparations for the opening ODI. This tour includes three ODIs and three T20 matches against Bangladesh.
Australia will also miss experienced fast bowlers Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, who have been rested. The visitors will be keen to improve on their previous white-ball tour of Bangladesh, where they suffered a 4-1 defeat in the T20I series.
Todd Murphy set for white-ball debut, Australia strengthen spin attack
Australia have adjusted their bowling plans for the Bangladesh tour by adding more spin options to suit the expected slow and turning pitches. The selectors have backed specialist spinners as the team prepares for challenging conditions in the subcontinent.
After being included in the team, off-spinner Todd Murphy is all set to make his white-ball international debut. The Victorian has already played seven Tests for Australia and was part of the squad during the recent home Ashes series.
Australia’s move continues the spin-centric approach they used in Pakistan. Seam-bowling all-rounder Liam Scott could also make his ODI debut after missing the Pakistan series, while Joel Davis is a contender for a T20I debut later in the tour.
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