Cricket fans saddened after Ricky Ponting confirms unwanted news about Mitch Marsh

Ricky Ponting has revealed Mitch Marsh will miss the rest of the IPL after the Aussie cricket star flew home earlier this month for treatment on a hamstring injury. The Delhi Capitals sent Marsh back to Australia after he picked up what was believed to be a minor niggle, however there was hope he would return at some stage later in the tournament.

But Capitals coach Ponting revealed on Monday night that Marsh won't be back and will instead focus on getting the hamstring right for the upcoming T20 World Cup. "I don't think he'll be coming back," Ponting said. "There's a certain cut off point with replacement players.

"Cricket Australia were keen to have him at home to start his recovery process and we sent him back as soon as we could. They've been managing his rehab for a couple of weeks now. I spoke to him the other day and it seems it's taken a little longer than he first thought to get over it. I don't think the T20 World Cup would be an issue."

Marsh is expected to captain Australia at the World Cup in the Caribbean and America in June. The hamstring injury isn't expected to affect the World Cup some six weeks away.

But the issue is part of some wider concerns for Australia's contingent in the IPL. All-rounder Glenn Maxwell has taken a break from playing after a lean run of scores with the bat, while Cameron Green has also failed to fire.

RELATED:

• Mitchell Starc facing calls to be axed after 'unacceptable' scenes

• Pat Cummins' unprovoked swipe at Marnus after Travis Head heroics

And strike bowler Mitchell Starc has copped a pasting, taking just six wickets and conceding 287 runs off 25 overs at an economy rate of 11.48. Starc has conceded for 44 boundaries in seven games - the most of any bowler in this year's competition.

However there have been some shining lights, with Travis Head rocketing up the run-scorers' list with his recent scores of 102 and 89. Marsh's injury has also opened the door for young gun Jake Fraser-McGurk, who smashed 65 off just 18 balls in his last game for the Capitals. The 22-year-old has put himself right in the frame for World Cup selection and has shown he belongs.

Glenn Maxwell steps away after disastrous start to IPL

As for Maxwell, Australian officials will be hoping he's back playing as soon as possible and finds his mercurial form. “After the first few games hadn’t gone to plan personally for me, it was a pretty easy decision,” Maxwell said about opting not to play the last two games. “I went to (RCB captain Faf du Plessis) and the coaches last game and said it was time to probably try someone else.

"I have been in this situation before in the past, where you can keep playing and dig yourself into a hole. Now is actually the best time to give myself a mental and physical break. With our results this year, it was quite an easy decision. We haven’t been playing as well as we would have liked as a team, and the results show that.

"My personal results have reflected the results we have had. Pretty big deficiency straight after the Powerplay and the middle overs, which have been an area of strength of mine the last couple of seasons. I felt like I wasn’t contributing in a positive way and it felt like, with the position we find ourselves at the table, to give someone else the opportunity to try their wares and hopefully, someone can make the spot their own.”