MELBOURNE: All-rounder Cameron Green replaced injured wicketkeeper batter, Josh Inglis, in Australia’s squad for the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022, Cricket Australia confirmed.
Inglis, who had more than a dozen stitches after a golfing accident, was wearing a bandage on his right hand at Australia’s training session at the SCG on Thursday and has since been excluded from the home team’s lineup.
The wicketkeeper batter wounded his right hand when a golf club broke and was examined in hospital on Wednesday. Despite the short healing period and no signs of tendon damage, he will now miss the tournament.
Following Inglis’ unavailability, Australia are now left with no backup wicketkeeper in their 15-member squad and a replacement can only be added if Matthew Wade gets injured.
In unfortunate circumstances for the defending champions, the wicketkeeping role may likely go to David Warner, while skipper Aaron Finch can also be considered.
“If you look back over World Cup squad selections, there have been plenty of times where Australia have gone in with only one frontline keeper in the squad,” McDonald said.
“And that is to give greater flexibility to batting and bowling structures in the team. It’s a conversation about how we want to give ourselves the most options, rather than potentially covering the small risk that is there,” he maintained.
It is pertinent to mention that Australia have gone to World Cups multiple times without a backup wicketkeeper, including the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2015 where Brad Haddin was the only choice.
Australia squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa.
