Australia left undermanned during T20 World Cup warm-ups vs Namibia, coaching staff forced to field

With the ICC Men's T20 World Cup fast approaching, multiple teams are making their way to the US and West Indies as they partake in training and warm-up matches. It is a pivotal tournament as all the teams will vie for the coveted cup. Certain teams have begun with their warm-up matches, with Australia recently concluding their game against Namibia. But strange things happened at the match, as the Aussies were severely undermanned, and the team had to rely on the coaching staff when they came out to the field to help the team.

Also Read: 'To witness the comeback, simply fantastic': David Warner hails Rishabh Pant's miraculous comeback

A nine-manned Cricket Australia faced Namibia at T20 CWC Warm-ups, AUS coaching staff came out to aid the side   

Cricket Australia opened their World Cup warm-ups as they faced Namibia at the Queen's Park Oval at Port of Spain in Trinidad and Tobago. David Warner was able to wash out all the cobwebs and poor form in the IPL 2024 season as he scored a half-century for his National side. Skipper Mitchell Marsh, who is dealing with a hamstring injury, won the toss and elected to bowl first. The Aussies had nine players in the game, and they were helped by the coaching staff as they fielded in their innings.

As per cricket.com.au, George Bailey, selection chief, and Andre Borovec, fielding coach, were the first to take the pitch. When Marsh and Josh Hazlewood were not on the pitch, batting coach Brad Hodge and head coach Andrew McDonald joined them. Borovec and Bailey both held on to straightforward catches, McDonald defied a sandy outfield with an athletic sliding stop on the boundary, and Hodge was seen moving swiftly on the pitch.

Also Read: 'He's up there with Ronaldo & Messi': NZ icon profoundly links Virat Kohli with global sports titans

The reason for Australia having fewer players in the game is that only nine players of the side's preliminary squad have reached West Indies. The remaining six -- Pat Cummins, Travis Head, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Starc, Glenn Maxwell, and Cameron Green -- have been granted additional time at home following the completion of the IPL 2024 season.