Following Josh Inglis’ “freak” injury that prevented him from competing in the T20 World Cup, Australian coach Andrew McDonald says selectors will choose between young all-rounders Cameron Green, a pace bowler, and three keeper batsman.
At the second hole of the New South Wales Golf Club in La Perouse on Wednesday, the 27-year-old slashed his hand open when his six-iron broke.
Josh Inglis and several other Australian athletes were taking advantage of their morning off before Thursday when they would have their largest practice of the week.
Josh Inglis’ injury extent
Inglis was transported to the hospital and found to have no ligament injury, but his participation in the competition is expected to be ended by cuts on the palm of his hand.
The Australian coach claimed to have “never seen” an injury comparable to Inglis’s.
Josh Inglis was the victim of “a very freak accident,” McDonald said on SEN. “Josh’s situation is not favorable. This morning, we have some work to accomplish and a small issue to resolve regarding our backup keeper and batter.
“That’s all to play out, but he might not participate in the World Cup. In his right hand, where he would be clutching the bat and the ball would be impacting there if he had to keep, there is damage to the palm of the hand, which is less than ideal.
“He went to a hand expert yesterday. Fortunately, there isn’t any tendon injury, so that seems to be the positive outcome of the negative. They were able to close the wound, clean it up, and start the healing process.
“With the timeline and how rapidly these games are approaching, it seriously jeopardizes his participation in the World Cup.”
Inglis was not scheduled to start ahead of Matthew Wade because teams are only permitted 15 players in each squad, thus his absence is a serious blow to the depth of the Australian team.
With the blessing of the competition’s Technical Committee, Australia must now announce a substitute squad.
Boom all-arounder Cam Green, as well as prospective backup keepers Ben McDermott, Josh Philippe, and Alex Carey, were all mentioned by McDonald as being “certainly a talking point.”