Australia’s wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis has been ruled out of the second and third ODIs against South Africa due to a fractured finger. Inglis broke his right index finger while keeping in the first ODI in Durban, but carried on keeping and even batted in the chase, scoring 3 off 8 from No.4. But extent of the injury has now taken him out of the reckoning for the ODIs in Johannesburg on September 27 and in Potchefstroom on September 30.
Inglis will also be in a race against time to mend his finger for the highly-anticipated Test series that kicks off in Durban from October 9. He is the back-up keeper to Alex Carey in Australia’s Test squad but still stands a chance to make it to the XI as a specialist batter if he can recover on time.
A Cricket Australia statement confirmed that Inglis will return home to Perth for medical scans with his availability for the Test series subject to “further assessment and progress.” Australia haven’t named a replacement for Inglis for the remaining two ODIs but might have to consider their options for the Test series should he not recover in time.
Australia went down 0-1 with a 67-run defeat in the ODI series opener in Durban, and have all to play for in the remaining two fixtures.