(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Australia Suffer Injury Setbacks Ahead of South Africa ODI Series
Australian cricketer Mitchell Owen has been ruled out of the deciding T20I against South Africa and the upcoming ODI series after suffering a concussion. The incident occurred in Darwin when Owen was struck on the helmet by fast bowler Kagiso Rabada.
Although Owen initially passed an on-field concussion assessment, he later developed symptoms and will now undergo a mandatory 12-day recovery period. This stand-down means he will also miss out on what could have been his ODI debut.
The Australian squad has faced multiple injury concerns. Lance Morris (back soreness) and Matt Short (side strain) will also miss the ODI series, prompting selectors to call in Aaron Hardie, Cooper Connolly, and Matt Kuhnemann as replacements.
Morris’ setback is particularly worrying due to his history of back injuries, while Short’s absence continues an interrupted run in his international career following a quad injury earlier this year.
The ODI series begins August 19 in Cairns, with the final two matches scheduled for August 22 and 24 in Mackay. Australia and South Africa are currently tied 1-1 in the T20I series, with the decider set for Saturday.
Australia’s updated ODI squad:
Mitchell Marsh (captain), Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Adam Zampa.
