Australia Squad: Owen, Morris, Short Ruled Out Of ODI Series

Australia has suffered a triple injury setback before their three-match ODI series against South Africa. Mitchell Owen, Lance Morris, and Matt Short are all ruled out, leading selectors to shuffle the Australia squad.

Mitchell Owen Sidelined After Concussion

All-rounder Mitchell Owen went down with a concussion after being hit on the helmet by South African seamer Kagiso Rabada in the deciding T20I in Darwin. Owen went through the on-field concussion test initially, but went on to develop delayed symptoms after his dismissal.

According to Cricket Australia’s protocols, he will have to go through a mandatory 12-day stand-down period, eliminating him for both the T20I decider and the ODI series. The injury holds up what would have been Owen’s ODI debut.

Lance Morris Withdraws with Back Soreness

Fast bowler Lance Morris has been withdrawn from the Australia team with back soreness. This would have been Morris’ return to international cricket, but his past history of back issues renders the setback worrying. He has returned to Perth for further evaluation and might also miss the Australia A tour of India’s four-day stint.

Matt Short’s Side Strain Derails ODI Chances

All-rounder Matt Short has been unable to overcome the side strain picked up in the West Indies series. Initially sidelined from the first two T20Is, he will now miss the whole South Africa series. Short has experienced an interrupted international stint, also sitting out games in the Champions Trophy this year because of a quad injury.

Replacements: Aaron Hardie & Matt Kuhnemann Called Up

Selectors have summoned Aaron Hardie and Matt Kuhnemann for the ODI series. Hardie, already in the T20I team as cover for Short, will bring depth to the all-rounder unit. Kuhnemann, whose last ODI was in 2022, could share a spin combo with Adam Zampa.

Other Squad Changes

Josh Inglis was absent from the second T20I due to flu-like symptoms, and Alex Carey has returned to T20Is since 2021. Australia is currently locked in a tied T20I series with South Africa, with the third game scheduled for Saturday in Cairns. The ODI series starts on August 19 in Cairns, then Mackay on August 22 and 24.