Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis has been criticised for comments suggesting Glenn Maxwell’s concussion from falling off a golf cart was a result of “boys being boys”.
Australia will take a weakened line-up into Saturday’s clash with England, with Maxwell ruled out with concussion symptoms and Mitch Marsh returning home from India due to personal reasons.
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Maxwell, who scored the fastest ODI World Cup century ever in the win over the Netherlands, will leave a hole in Australia’s middle order after he reportedly slipped and fell off the back of a golf cart this week.
Speaking about Maxwell’s concussion, Stoinis it was an unfortunate accident, joking the team need a “mum on tour” to look after the team.
“It’s unfortunate. It was one of those things. Unfortunately happened with boys being boys to an extent,” he told reporters in jest on Thursday.
“It’s hard. It’s like you need a mum on tour.
“We’re away from home for a long time and you’re doing things that you’re not really thinking there’s gonna be at risk of anyone hurting themselves. Where do you draw the line? You stop doing one thing then? I don’t know.”
Stoinis’ comments didn’t go down too well, with fans and commentators particularly taking issue with the “boys being boys” line.
Code Sports’ Lachlan McKirdy wrote on X: “At what age do you have to stop using the phrase, “boys will be boys”? Asking for a friend. For what it’s worth, I reckon the cut-off is 10.”
Cricket commentator Melissa Story said: “The double whammy of ‘boys will be boys’ AND suggesting a woman is needed to monitor the behaviour of grown men.”
Stoinis and Cameron Green will come into the side to replace Maxwell and Marsh, with Green and Marnus Labuschagne likely to make way for the pair when they return later in the tournament.
Australian coach Andrew McDonald expects Maxwell to recover in time to take part in Australia’s next game against Afghanistan on Tuesday.
“There’ll be no replacement (in the squad) as such, he’ll go into six to eight days concussion protocol,” McDonald said.
“So they said that takes into account the England game, he’ll be unavailable for that game. And then clearly within the squad we’ve got some players who become available Marcus Stoinis, Cameron Green’s there available as well, but we haven’t made that decision as yet.
“We feel as though it’ll be a relatively straightforward return to play protocol with where he’s at at the moment.”
Meanwhile, Stoinis said Marsh told teammates he plans to return to India to “win the World Cup”.
“(Marsh has) flown home late last night. He’s got a family issue going on. And like we all know family is very important and the most important really,” Stoinis said.
“So he’s doing the right thing and he’s getting home and he’s seeing the people he needs to see and then I don’t think there’s a timeline on when he’s coming back but I’m sure he’ll do what he needs to do at home and then get back.
“He sent a message last night saying ‘I’ll be home for a little bit then I’m coming back to win this World Cup’ so that speaks to his mindset.”
The Aussies sit third on the table with matches to come against England, Afghanistan and Bangladesh before the semi-finals get underway.
The first semi-final is set to take place on November 15 with the second the following night on November 16.
The 2023 cricket World Cup final will get underway on November 19.
Australia play England on Saturday at 7.30pm AEDT.