Key Australian players ruled out of South Africa series, replacements announced

Australia has been forced to make three late changes to its squad ahead of the upcoming ODI series against South Africa, with Mitchell Owen, Lance Morris, and Matt Short all sidelined due to injury.

Aaron Hardie, Cooper Connolly, and Matt Kuhnemann have been named as replacements.

Owen has been ruled out of both the series-deciding third T20I and the ODI series after suffering a concussion in the second T20I in Darwin. He was struck on the helmet by a sharp bouncer from Kagiso Rabada. While he initially passed an on-field concussion check, he later developed symptoms and will serve the mandatory 12-day recovery period, ending his hopes of making an ODI debut.

Fast bowler Lance Morris has been withdrawn after experiencing back soreness during training. The setback is concerning given his history of back problems. He has returned to Perth for further assessment, putting his participation in the upcoming Australia A tour of India in doubt.

All-rounder Matt Short, who missed the first two T20Is due to a side strain suffered in the West Indies, has now been ruled out of the entire South Africa tour. This adds to a series of injury interruptions, including a quad injury that forced him out of part of the Champions Trophy earlier this year.

Aaron Hardie, already in the T20I squad as cover for Short, will now stay on for the ODIs. Kuhnemann, who last played ODIs in 2022, returns to strengthen Australia’s spin options alongside Adam Zampa. Connolly, a left-handed batter and left-arm spinner, joins after playing his last ODI in the Champions Trophy semi-final against India earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Josh Inglis missed the second T20I due to flu-like symptoms, with Alex Carey stepping in for his first T20I appearance since 2021.

The T20I series is tied 1-1, with the decider to be played in Cairns on Saturday. The ODI series will start on August 19 in Cairns, followed by matches in Mackay on August 22 and 24.

Updated Australia 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.