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Australia have called up Cameron Green to replace the injured Josh Inglis in their World Cup T20 squad, but will resist any urge to rush the gun allrounder into the team for their opening match against New Zealand.
A “gutted” Inglis was officially ruled out of the World Cup on Thursday, after the back-up wicketkeeper suffered a freak hand injury while playing golf a day earlier.
Officials spent Thursday weighing up who to bring into the squad and whether to draft another back-up keeper to Matthew Wade.
But ultimately they opted to go in favour of Green, overlooking Alex Carey, Ben McDermott and Josh Philippe as well as quick Nathan Ellis who had been in consideration.
Josh Inglis bats during game four of the T20I series between Australia and Sri Lanka. (Photo by Daniel Pockett – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
Green’s non-selection in Australia’s initial T20 squad had loomed as a talking point in the lead-up to the tournament, particularly after he scored runs in India last month.
His scores of 61, five and 52 had even prompted suggestions Australia could find a loophole to bring him in, before more modest returns against England and West Indies.
However coach Andrew McDonald made clear on Thursday he would not be in Australia’s first-choice XI.
“If Cameron Green was considered in the starting XI before the tournament started, then he would be in the 15,” McDonald said.
“And he’s not. So there is no way, unless there is another injury, that he would come into the starting XI.
“We are pretty settled with what that looks like.”
Australia’s decision means they have taken a gamble on Wade getting through each warm-up and match without injury.
There were some early scares on Thursday with the Tasmanian copping separate blows to his glove and arm from Kane Richardson in the nets but he batted on.
If Wade was to go down between games, the fact the tournament is in Australia means officials could bring a player in relatively quickly if the injury was to rule him out of the tournament.
However changes to the squad cannot be made on match days, meaning if Wade was to be hurt in a warm-up Australia would have to rely on a part-timer taking the gloves.
McDonald threw up David Warner, Aaron Finch and opening bowler Mitchell Starc as options on Thursday, with the latter a keeper in representative cricket until his mid-teens.
“With our recent injury record you would probably say it is higher than low (risk),” McDonald quipped before Green’s call up was finalised.
“If you look back over World Cup squad selections there have been plenty of times where Australia have gone in with only one front-line ‘keeper in the squad.
“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.”
Meanwhile Inglis will remain with the group for the opening weekend, after a six-iron snapped in his hand while playing a par-three hole at the NSW Golf Club.
“He was devastated,” McDonald said.
“The club dug in sharply and had a sharp snap. It’s pretty much unheard of.
“Luckily there was no tendon damage as well, so it’s a pretty short turnaround. But just unfortunate timing.”
Sri Lanka have suffered a big double blow with paceman Dushmantha Chameera and batsman Danushka Gunathilaka out of the tournament because of injury.
Their withdrawals were announced ahead of Thursday’s final qualifier against the Netherlands, which they must win to have a chance of progressing to the Super 12 stage.
Chameera tore through the UAE top order in Tuesday night’s win with three wickets, but he pulled up as he ran in to bowl later in the innings.
He immediately hobbled off the field and is out with a torn left calf muscle, tournament organisers have announced.
Kasun Rajitha, who is in Sri Lanka, is his replacement.
Chameera also missed last month’s Asia Cup win because of injury.
Gunathilaka sat out the UAE game and he is out of the World Cup because of a left hamstring tear, with travelling reserve Ashen Bandara taking his place.
Sri Lanka’s massive upset loss to Namibia means they are third in the Group A standings, with only the top two progressing.
Even if Sri Lanka beat the Dutch, second-placed Namibia have a much better net run-rate and they play the UAE later on Thursday night to decide the final standings.
Cup organisers have also confirmed that Zawar Farid (left foot fracture) will be replaced by travelling reserve Fahad Nawaz.
England’s Reece Topley has a left ankle injury and Tymal Mills, who is in Australia, will take his place.
Alyssa Healy has been confirmed as Australia’s women’s cricket captain-in-waiting after being appointed as Meg Lanning’s deputy.
Healy was named the new vice-captain on Thursday, replacing Rachael Haynes in the role following her retirement last month.
There is every chance the role could turn into that of stand-in captain, with Lanning no guarantee to return from personal leave before a December T20 series in India.
Australia also have a home series against Pakistan in January, before a Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa in February.
Lanning took indefinite leave following Australia’s Commonwealth Games success in August, and is believed to be overseas while confirming she would not play in this summer’s WBBL.
Healy has long been considered a front-runner for the role, having led NSW at state level for the past four years and filled in as Australia vice-captain last summer.
Alyssa Healy. (Photo by Quinn Rooney-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)
“It’s a privilege to have been offered the vice-captaincy of any Australian team, let alone one that’s tasted as much success as this one,” Healy said.
“Rach played a key role in supporting Meg as well as driving the values and culture of the team and while she leaves big shoes to fill, I’m looking forward to helping lead this side alongside Meg and Shell.
“It’s a really exciting time to be involved with this team; we’ve seen personnel changes as well as the emergence of incredible young talent, and with a T20 World Cup and away Ashes just around the corner, I’m looking forward to this next chapter of my career.”
Healy’s appointment comes as Australia faces a changing of the guard in coming seasons.
The 32-year-old has spoken publicly on how she too has considered her future in recent months, while Ellyse Perry is another superstar aged over 30.
Shelly Nitschke was last month named the team’s new full-time coach, after previously serving in an interim capacity following Matt Mott’s exit.
CA also confirmed on Thursday that Dan Marsh and Scott Prestwidge would be her new assistants, with Ben Sawyer having also left to take on New Zealand’s women’s team.
“We’re delighted that Alyssa has agreed to take on the role of vice-captain and look forward to the contribution she can make in tandem with Meg,” chief selector Shawn Flegler said.
“Alyssa is an outstanding leader on and off the field and brings a wealth of experience to the role.
“We have great confidence in Alyssa, Meg and Shelley leading the team during an exciting 12-month period that will see the team defend its T20 World Cup title and look to retain the Ashes on English soil.”
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