Australia suffered a massive setback ahead of the T20I series against Scotland as right-arm pacer Josh Hazlewood was ruled out due to a calf strain.
Australia will tour Scotland for a three-match T20I series with matches scheduled at Grange Cricket Stadium in Edinburgh on September 4, 6 and 7 respectively.
With Josh Hazlewood out of the series with an injury, the Australian selectors named Riley Meredith in the squad.
Josh Hazlewood’s injury is considered to be a major setback for Australia as the reigning longer formats champions are gearing up for a busy white-ball calendar.
The injury, however, is considered minor but the team management opted to rest the pacer as a precautionary measure to lend him adequate time to attain complete fitness for the T20I and ODI series against England.
Riley Meredith impressed the Australian selectors with his outstanding stint for Somerset in the T20 Blast. The pacer claimed 14 wickets at an average of 22.78, thus playing a pivotal role in leading the side to the final.
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Meredith was also sensational in the One-Day Cup, the highlight of which was his 4/27 against Middlesex at Lord’s.
His last T20I appearance for Australia, however, came back in 2021 against West Indies.
Meredith will form Australia’s pace attack with Xavier Bartlett, Sean Abbott, and Nathan Ellis with all-rounders Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, and Marcus Stoinis likely to provide backup.
Leg-spinner Adam Zampa will spearhead the team’s spin department with uncapped Cooper Connolly.
Australia T20I squad for the series against Scotland: Mitchell Marsh(c), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Riley Meredith, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.
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