Australia Forced to Make Roster Adjustments for South Africa ODI Series

CAIRNS: The Australian cricket team will see some fresh faces in the upcoming One Day International series versus South Africa. Mitchell Owen, Lance Morris, and Matt Short have been ruled out due to various injuries.

Aaron Hardie, Cooper Connolly, and Matt Kuhnemann will be joining the squad as replacements.

Details of Player Absences

Mitchell Owen is out of the final T20I match and the ODI series following a concussion he sustained after being struck by Kagiso Rabada. Although initially cleared, Owen reported symptoms later and will be sidelined for 12 days.

Lance Morris is suffering from back soreness that he felt during a training session. He has returned to Perth for assessment, impacting his availability for the Australia A tour of India.

Matt Short, initially absent due to a side strain, is now out for the entire South Africa series. This compounds Short’s recent injury setbacks.

Series Context

South Africa tied the T20I series with a victory, leading to a crucial match in Cairns. The same city will host the first ODI on August 19, followed by matches in Mackay on August 22 and 24.

Replacement Players

Hardie, already with the T20I team, will stay for the ODI series. Kuhnemann, who last played ODIs in 2022, might join Adam Zampa in the bowling attack.

Connolly, who debuted during the Champions Trophy, also joins the squad.

Josh Inglis missed the second T20I due to illness, with Alex Carey filling in.

Updated Australia ODI Squad:
  • Mitchell Marsh (capt)
  • Xavier Bartlett
  • Alex Carey
  • Cooper Connolly
  • Ben Dwarshuis
  • Nathan Ellis
  • Cameron Green
  • Aaron Hardie
  • Josh Hazlewood
  • Travis Head
  • Josh Inglis
  • Matt Kuhnemann
  • Marnus Labuschagne
  • Adam Zampa