Australia head coach Andrew McDonald has called on the International Cricket Council (ICC) to increase squad sizes for the 2027 ICC Men’s ODI World Cup, saying the tournament’s expanded format will demand more players than even before. The 2027 edition, which will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, will feature 14 teams instead of 10, while the champions could play at least 13 matches, with some teams potentially playing 15 games because of the newly introduced Super Series and Super 7 stages. Andrew McDonald believes that keeping the current 15-player squad limit is unfair and has urged the ICC to allow 17-player squads
Why Australia Wants Bigger Squads?
Andrew McDonald believes that increasing the number of matches without increasing squad sizes puts unnecessary pressure on players. According to him, the World Cup is cricket’s biggest tournament, and every team should have to deal with injuries, workload management and changing conditions throughout the competition.
Andrew McDonald said that if teams are expected to play more matches in the same tournament window, they should also be given larger squads. McDonald argued that the aim should be to have the world’s best players available during the knockout stages instead of watching them miss matches because of injuries or fatigue.
The 2023 World Cup Experience Changes Australia’s ThinkingÂ
Andrew McDonald used Australia’s successful 2023 ODI World Cup campaign as an example. Before the tournament, opener Travis Head suffered a broken finger, leaving Australia with a difficult decision. Instead of replacing him, Australia kept Head in the 15-player squad because ICC rules would not have allowed him to return unless he came back as an approved injury replacement.
McDonald admitted that Australia effectively started the tournament with only 14 available players, leaving very little room for further injuries. Fortunately, Head recovered in time and played a decisive role, scoring a century in the final against India after producing another match-winning innings in the semi-final against South Africa.
Reflecting on that experience, McDonald said, ”We had the dilemma of what it looked like having a 15-player squad. After a couple of injuries, you end up with only 12 or 13 players to select from early in the tournament. ” He added that New Zealand also faced similar injury problems, showing that this issue affects multiple teams rather than just Australia.
Expanded Format Means More Matches
The ICC recently confirmed that the 2027 ODI World Cup will feature 14 teams with a completely new structure. Three lower-ranked nations will first compete in a Super Series, while the remaining teams will play the group stage before progressing to the Super 7 round. The top teams from there will qualify for the semi-finals and final.
Australia played 11 matches to win the 2023 ODI World Cup, including nine group stage before progressing to the Super 7 round. The top teams from there will qualify for the semi-finals and final. Under the new format, the champions will play at least 13 matches, including five group stage games, six Super 7 matches, one semi-final and one final. If a team qualifies through the Super Series and reaches the final, it could play 15 matches during the tournament.
McDonald believes this extra workload makes larger squads essential rather than optional.
What Exactly Did Andrew McDonald Say?
During an interview with Australian radio station SEN, Andrew McDonald repeatedly emphasised that the World Cup should showcase the strongest players instead of becoming a battle of survival.
He said, ‘‘ If it’s going to be your pinnacle event, what do your squad sizes look like? ” He questioned why teams should continue with only 15 players when the tournament itself has become much longer.
Andrew McDonald also said, ” My push is that if you’re playing more games in the same period of time, you don’t want it to become attritional.” He explained that cricket before a World Cup is already demanding, meaning many players enter the tournament carrying minor injuries or fitness concerns.
Another strong message from Australian coach was, ”Give us larger squads so we can play the way we need to play and carry players who may be 50-50 leading into the tournament.” He believes that allowing 17-player squads would help teams manage fast bowlers, rotate players according to conditions and reduce the chances of losing key players to injuries.
McDonald even compared cricket with football, pointing out that the FIFA World Cup allowed 26-player squads, despite only 11 players being on the field at one time. He questioned why cricket, with a much longer tournament and heavier workload, should continue with only 15 players.
Also Read:Â ICC ODI WC 2027: Explained ICC ODI WC 2027 Updated Format