Zampa and Inglis Out of Opening ODI Against India

PERTH: Leg-spinner Adam Zampa and wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis will be absent from Australia’s lineup for the first ODI against India in Perth. Matthew Kuhnemann and Josh Philippe have been called in as replacements.

Zampa’s absence is due to the impending birth of his second child, as his wife Harriet is expecting.

With the due date nearing, Zampa has opted to stay home in northern New South Wales, given the challenges of returning from Perth on short notice.

However, the leg-spinner is anticipated to rejoin the team for the second and third ODIs in Adelaide and Sydney. He is also expected to participate in the subsequent five-match T20I series, all of which are scheduled on the east coast.

Inglis, on the other hand, is still recovering from a calf strain sustained during a training session in Perth.

This injury had previously sidelined him from the New Zealand tour, and despite Australia’s optimism, he is likely to miss the second ODI in Adelaide as well.

Alex Carey will return for that match after participating in a Sheffield Shield game for South Australia this week.

With Inglis unavailable, Philippe is slated to take on the wicketkeeping duties in an ODI for the first time.

The 27-year-old, who last played for Australia during the 2021 Caribbean tour, has displayed excellent form in domestic cricket and recently performed impressively for Australia A.

Kuhnemann’s inclusion marks his return to the ODI squad after a three-year absence. The left-arm spinner previously played in four ODIs during Australia’s 2022 tour of Sri Lanka.

Despite limited playing time recently, he has remained with national squads across multiple tours and has performed consistently in domestic one-day matches for Tasmania.

Australian selectors are carefully managing player workloads with the Ashes series approaching.

All-rounder Cameron Green is expected to participate in the first two ODIs but may miss the third in Sydney to play in a Shield game in Perth. Green is also unlikely to bowl against India as he gradually increases his bowling workload.

Carey, a regular in Australia’s first-choice ODI XI, missed South Australia’s opening Shield match due to a late call-up for the New Zealand tour.

Philippe, who also provided wicketkeeping cover during that series, will now miss two consecutive Shield fixtures for New South Wales.

Australia ODI Squad vs India:

Mitchell Marsh (capt), Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey (wk), Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe (wk), Matt Renshaw, Matthew Short, Mitchell Starc and Adam Zampa.