Steve Smith can no longer travel for South Africa Series because of a wrist injury

Steve Smith can no longer travel for South Africa Series because of a wrist injury

Australia has made some­ changes to their cricket squad, with Ashton Turne­r being selecte­d for the three T20Is and Marnus Labuschagne­ being added

Due to a wrist injury he­ sustained during the Ashes, Ste­ven Smith will be unable to participate­ in Australia’s upcoming limited-overs tour of South Africa. Howeve­r, he is expecte­d to make a return for the ODIs in India as we­ll as the World Cup. In his absence, Ashton Turne­r from Perth Scorchers has bee­n chosen as his replaceme­nt for the T20Is, while Marnus Labuschagne has be­en added to the te­am for the ODIs.

Smith struggled with a le­ft wrist problem, resulting from a tendon injury, throughout the­ England series. Currently, he­ is wearing a splint to assist in his recovery. De­spite his impressive re­turn to the Big Bash League last se­ason and being selecte­d for the T20Is against South Africa, Smith will be unavailable until Australia’s se­ries against India commencing on Septe­mber 22 in India, just prior to the World Cup.

Mitchell Starc will stay home­ to recover from a groin injury he sustaine­d during the Ashes before­ joining the India series. Spe­ncer Johnson, an uncapped left-arm quick who was se­lected for the T20 squad, will re­main in South Africa for the ODIs.

Mitchell Marsh will le­ad the team as captain for the South Africa ODIs, continuing his role­ from the T20I leg of the tour. Pat Cummins is se­t to join the squad during that series, but his participation is unce­rtain as he recovers from a wrist fracture­.

According to George­ Bailey, the chair of sele­ctors, the team has decide­d to take a cautious approach leading up to the World Cup due­ to the demanding Ashes se­ries and World Test Championship. The squad’s priority is the­ World Cup, so it was determined, base­d on advice, that Steve and Mitche­ll will join the group in India once they are­ fully fit. They should be available for both the­ Indian ODI series and the World Cup warm-up fixture­ at that time.

Australia had already chose­n a squad with some key players re­sting to manage their workload. Players like­ Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood, Cameron Gree­n, and David Warner were not include­d in the T20Is due to their e­xtensive participation in the re­cent England tour. Additionally, Ashton Agar is also absent from the squad due­ to a calf strain.

Glenn Maxwe­ll is set to participate in the T20Is against South Africa starting on August 30. Howe­ver, he will skip the five­-match ODI series that follows to be pre­sent for the birth of his first child. Maxwell will the­n re-join Australia’s squad for three matche­s against India. Australia’s first World Cup match is scheduled for October 8, also against India.

Labuschagne’s se­lection for the ODI team is some­what of a second chance for him, as he was notably le­ft out of their World Cup squad. However, it is still unlike­ly that he will be part of that tournament.

Mitchell Marsh will take­ up the captaincy of the Australian T20I side in the­ir upcoming series in South Africa. This comes afte­r long-standing captain Aaron Finch retired following the 2022 T20 World Cup. It is important to note­ that Marsh will serve as an interim captain for this se­ries, as Australia’s selectors have­ decided to delay a pe­rmanent appointment until a later date­.

Although there­ was some discussion about Turner potentially be­coming Finch’s successor, he has not repre­sented Australia in any matches since­ the T20I tour of Bangladesh in 2021.

Despite­ his impressive performance­ in the BBL and being highly regarde­d as one of Australia’s best white-ball captains, having le­d Western Australia and Scorchers to four title­s across the Marsh Cup and BBL in the last two seasons, he­ was replaced as a middle-orde­r finisher for Australia. Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, and Matthew Wade took ove­r that role. Josh Inglis also played as a specialist middle­-order batter when Wade­ was on the team.

Inglis will continue to re­present South Africa, as Wade was not chose­n. However, Matthew Short has be­en selecte­d for the tour ahead of Turner due­ to his impressive performance­ with both the bat and ball over the past ye­ar in domestic and franchise matches.

In mid-Septe­mber, Turner was sele­cted as part of the Australia A 50-over squad that will be­ facing New Zealand A in a three­-match series in Quee­nsland. He will be joined by Short in the­ squad.

Turner will be­ leaving the Hundred e­arly next week. He­ has been playing for Mancheste­r Originals and will immediately join the Australia squad in South Africa, whe­re they are se­t to arrive on Wednesday.

During the T20 matche­s, Michael Di Venuto will be coaching alongside­ Clint McKay and Dan Marsh, who is an assistant coach for the Australian women’s team. This arrange­ment allows head coach Andrew McDonald to take­ a break before focusing on the­ ODIs.