The three-match T20I series will kickstart on October 1.
Star Australian wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis has been sidelined for the upcoming New Zealand tour due to a calf strain. He performed decently in the five-match T20I series in the West Indies, with 172 runs and two half-centuries. But the 30-year-old failed to get off the mark in the first and third T20I against South Africa at home. However, Australia’s three-match T20I series against the Black Caps will kickstart on October 1 at the Bay Oval. All matches will be played at the same venue in Mount Maunganui.
Alex Carey has been named as Inglis’ replacement in the T20I squad. Notably, the 34-year-old recently donned the 20-over kit after a long four-year gap since his last appearance in this format. Moreover, Carey had replaced Inglis in the second T20I of the South Africa series too, as the first-choice keeper was unavailable due to illness.
Carey was initially not included in the side. He was set to feature in the opening round of the Sheffield Shield for South Australia to gear up for the much-anticipated Ashes 2025, which will kick off on November 21.
However, apart from Inglis, the team would also miss a few regular faces in their playing XI in New Zealand. Previously, the ODI and Test captain of Australia, Pat Cummins, had pulled out of the series due to lumbar bone stress. Veteran spinner Nathan Lyon and all-rounder Cameron Green would also not feature in these fixtures as he is set to play in the Sheffield Shield to prepare for the upcoming red-ball event against England.
Earlier, Inglis had also sustained a calf injury while fielding against India during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 series. But the gloveman is expected to return in the squad for the 50-over matches against India, starting on October 19 in Perth.
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Mitchell Marsh (C), Tim David, Travis Head, Alex Carey (WK), Mitchell Owen, Matthew Short, Sean Abbott, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Xavier Bartlett, Ben Dwarshuis, Josh Hazlewood, Matthew Kuhnemann, and Adam Zampa.
All matches will begin at 11:45 AM IST
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