Fractured Finger Rules Josh Inglis Out Of South Africa ODIs

Josh Inglis has a fractured right index finger. It rules him out of the remaining one day internationals against South Africa. The wicketkeeper was hurt midway through Australia’s fielding innings in the series opener at Kingsmead in Durban. He kept going. He batted later in the match and made 3 before falling to a reverse sweep.

Cricket Australia said he would head home. "The West Australian will return home for scans with his availability for the three match Test series subject to further assessment and progress," the board said. South Africa lead the series 1-0. They won the opener by 67 runs.

Carey returns behind the stumps

Alex Carey has been recalled for the second one day international. It is at the Wanderers in Johannesburg. He takes the gloves there. That solves the immediate problem and leaves a second one open, because Australia have no specialist reserve keeper in the party for that match.

A part time option behind the stumps is survivable for one game. It is not something a touring side plans for. The squad was built around Inglis keeping and Carey being elsewhere.

Names in the frame for the Tests

Australia play three Tests in South Africa next month. The reported alternatives fall into two groups if Inglis does not recover in time.

• Alex Carey, already back in the one day side
• Josh Philippe, currently on the Australia A tour of India
• Sam Harper, also on the Australia A tour of India
• Nathan McSweeney, named as a Test option
• Peter Handscomb, named as a Test option

Philippe and Harper are already in India with the A squad. That makes them the quickest to move. McSweeney and Handscomb bring Test experience without being specialist gloveman selections.

A keeper’s finger is a slower fix

Index finger fractures sit awkwardly with keeping. The right index finger takes repeated impact on every ball taken on that side of the body. Batting can often resume before keeping can. That is the gap that decides this one.

It also explains the wording from Cricket Australia. The board tied his Test availability to assessment rather than naming a return date. Scans are due once he lands.

Selection pressure either way

Inglis has the Test gloves. Carey held them for years before him. A fracture that costs Inglis a full away series in South Africa would hand the position back. The timing is awkward. Carey is already in the country and already back in the side.

Three Tests is a long audition for whoever takes the gloves. Away series in South Africa are not where Australia like to experiment behind the stumps. The scan result will decide how much of that question they have to answer.