Australia’s short tour of New Zealand has been dealt another setback with wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis ruled out of the three-match T20I series due to a calf strain. The 29-year-old pulled up sore after a running session in Perth earlier this week and scans confirmed the injury on Wednesday. Alex Carey has been drafted in as his replacement for the matches at Mount Maunganui on October 1, 3 and 4.
This is Inglis’ second calf problem in nine months, having suffered a low-grade strain during the Boxing Day Test against India last December that forced him out of the rest of the BBL season. While this latest injury is a blow to his T20I prospects, he is expected to be fit for the ODI series against India beginning October 19 in Perth.
Selection headaches for Australia
Inglis’ absence adds to a growing list of disruptions for Australia. Captain Pat Cummins was already withdrawn from the New Zealand series with lumbar bone stress, Cameron Green has been left at home to prepare for the Ashes through Sheffield Shield cricket, while Nathan Ellis is unavailable as he awaits the birth of his first child.
For the selectors, Inglis’ injury is especially awkward because they chose not to name a spare wicketkeeper in the original 14-man squad. Carey was preparing for South Australia’s Sheffield Shield opener on October 4 but will now rejoin the national set-up. This could potentially limit his first-class preparation ahead of the Ashes and ODI series.
Carey’s recall shows the uncertainty around Australia’s keeping options in the shortest format. He played his first T20I as wicketkeeper since 2020 when he filled in for Inglis during the South Africa series in August. While his T20 record is modest compared to his credentials in Tests and ODIs, selectors clearly value his experience and reliability behind the stumps at a time.
The calf issue is only part of the problem. Inglis has been managing back spasms since the Sri Lanka Test series earlier this year, something he admitted has hampered his preparation. “It’s sort of been around for a couple years now. For me, it’s been really frustrating,” Inglis told ESPNcricinfo recently. “It’s not been something that’s really kept me out of the game. It’s just something I’ve got to manage.”
Updated Australia squad for New Zealand T20Is
Mitchell Marsh (capt), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Matt Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Owen, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
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