Australia suffered another major blow ahead of their series against New Zealand.
The injury list for the Australia-New Zealand series has grown longer, with Glenn Maxwell ruled out before the contest even begins. Josh Philippe has been called up as his replacement.
Maxwell sustained the injury during practice in Mount Maunganui when a shot from Mitchell Swepson struck his arm while he was bowling. He was seen in visible pain and later scans revealed a fracture in his wrist.
This injury is a huge setback for Australia. Maxwell is not only one of their most experienced players, but also vital to the team’s balance with both bat and ball.
Adding to Australia’s woes, batting mainstay Josh Inglis has already been ruled out through injury. Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, and Nathan Ellis are also unavailable for this series.
Following the scan, Maxwell immediately returned home. He will consult a specialist there to determine how long he will be sidelined. His participation in the upcoming T20I series against India later this month is also in doubt.
If he misses that too, it will be a significant hurdle for both him and Australia’s preparations for the World Cup scheduled for February-March next year. The eight matches against New Zealand and India were seen as crucial in building momentum for the tournament.
Philippe, who replaces Maxwell, is not an allrounder but rather a wicketkeeper-batter. He has essentially been included as cover for Alex Carey in case an additional keeper is needed. Carey himself was only brought into the squad after Inglis was ruled out.
Philippe has played three ODIs and 12 T20Is for Australia, his last appearance coming in December 2023. The 28-year-old has been in fine form in red-ball cricket recently, scoring both a century and a fifty for Australia A during the recent tour of India, and has been a consistent performer in domestic first-class cricket.
However, his T20 record tells a different story. Over the past two Big Bash seasons, he has scored just one fifty in 24 innings with a strike rate below 130. At the international level, he has managed only 150 runs in 12 T20I innings, averaging 12.50 with a strike rate of 109.48.
New Zealand, too, are dealing with injury problems. Regular captain Mitchell Santner and several other first-choice players are unavailable for this series.
The three-match series in Mount Maunganui begins on Wednesday.
