The Australia all-rounder is said to have slipped and fallen from the back of a golf cart, hitting his head in the process.

The blow follows soon after Maxwell’s recovery from another freak injury, with the 35-year-old returning to action shortly before the World Cup following a leg break sustained during a 50th birthday party in November 2022.

Australia’s squad had only just returned to a full complement of fit players, with Travis Head breaking his hand in an ODI before the World Cup and making a century on his first game back against India.

This is also not the first freak golf accident to have affected a cricketer in recent times, with Jonny Bairstow ruled out of England’s 2022/23 winter after slipping and breaking his leg while golfing.

Maxwell’s absence is likely to mean a return to the side for Marcus Stoinis or Cam Green, the two all-rounders in the squad not currently in the XI.

Australia are on the verge of securing their passage to the World Cup semi-finals, while beating England would officially knock their old rivals out of contention.