In yet another unusual injury incident, Australia's backup wicketkeeper Josh Inglis suffered a cut right hand while golfing in Sydney a few days before their opening match against New Zealand on Saturday. The news comes after multiple injuries have been reported by many of the teams in the Super 12 have key players who have hurt themselves ahead of the second round of the competition.
Inglis' injury was first reported by the Sydney Morning Herald and a team spokesperson also confirmed that the 27-year-old was being assessed in a hospital in Australia on Wednesday afternoon after a golf club snapped in his hand.
Inglis, who has played nine T20Is, is unlikely to feature in Australia's starting XI during the tournament unless there is an injury to first-choice wicketkeeper Matthew Wade, or a concussion substitute is required. If the injury proves serious Australia would be able to replace Inglis in their 15-player squad with ICC approval but he would not be able to return.
Inglis was also part of the squad for the previous Men's T20 World Cup in the UAE. However, he featured in just three of Australia's games leading into the marquee event — two matches against India and then the warm-up game against the same opponents at the Gabba in Brisbane on Monday.
However, he has made a good impression with his limited opportunities. He has a strike rate of 141.02 from his inventive batting and is viewed as the natural successor to Wade whenever the veteran wicketkeeper retires.
Earlier in the year, England wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow was also ruled out of the tournament after suffering a golfing mishap. In that incident, Bairstow suffered a badly broken ankle caused by slipping on a tee box on the day the squad was announced.
