Australia registered a consolation win in the dead rubber of ODI series against South Africa. In the rain-affected game, Australia won by 45 runs as per DLS method. But before the rain played spoilsport, Australia had two of their Test series-only players Marnus Labuschagne and Beau Webster taking the field as substitute fielders. The reason behind it was injuries to Matt Renshaw and Cameron Green and a depleted Australian ODI squad due to injuries. Ahead of the crucial three-Test series, it is a worrying sign for Australia who were already shielding their Test players by managing their workload.
How Renshaw and Green got injured?
Green was the first one to get injured. He got hit on the groin while batting. He was in visible pain when he swung his bat and missed a delivery in the same over. Batting at no.7, he scored 23 runs from 18 deliveries. However, he did not turn up to bowl. Green did not bowl in the first two ODIs either but he was expected to bowl in the third ODI leading up to the Test series before he got injured. Green hasn't been in form with the bat too on South Africa tour, scoring 45 runs from three innings. However, he showed good form in red-ball cricket before with a gritty century against Bangladesh in a low-scoring second Test of the series.
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Renshaw did not get injured while batting. He was hit on the right wrist while he was fielding at a close-in square leg position. A shot from Ryan Rickelton hit him on the wrist and he eventually left the field, not returning for the rest of the match. While batting Renshaw had scored 30 runs from 29 balls. Renshaw had got starts through the ODI series against Proteas (44, 32 and 30) but couldn't score a single half-century.
Australia’s list of injured players in ODI series
Before the third ODI of the series, Australia had 12 fit players from the ODI squad. Nathan Ellis and Joel Davies were ruled out of third ODI due to side strain and hamstring injury respectively. Josh Inglis was already out of action due to broken finger and Jack Edwards sustained a hamstring injury in the second ODI where he bagged his maiden fifer. Notably, Edwards was flown in as Green's cover. The all-rounder was initially part of the Australia A squad on India tour.
Also, the Australian team management did not want to risk an injury to Josh Hazlewood in rainy conditions. In the dead rubber, he was replaced by Pat Cummins who had missed the first two ODIs as part of workload management.
What Marsh said about injuries?
The trio of Renshaw, Green and Inglis face the race against time to be fit for the Test series against Australia.
"I haven't spoken to them yet, but hopefully both are okay," Marsh said after the win.
"[Green was] locked in the bowl a few overs today. He had a nice build, and it would have been nice for him to have a bowl. But yeah, it wasn't meant to be, and I'm sure that it won't affect his preparation too much, hopefully."
Why Inglis’ injury is more concerning? Who can replace him?
If Inglis isn’t fit for the first Test which begins on October 9 at Kingsmead, Durban, Australia will have to call in a back-up for wicketkeeper Alex Carey. In case of an injury or concussion, Australia would need a wicketkeeper-batter. As it turns out, the Australia A side in India has already seen a wicketkeeper-batter making his mark. Sam Harper has scored a gritty century in the ongoing second unofficial Test between Australia A and India A. Rescuing his side from 104/5, he batted with the lower order and the tail to help the visitors post 358 on the board. Harper scored 128 runs from 223 balls. This was 29-year-old's sixth first-class hundred.
Josh Philippe and Jimmy Peirson are two other options. Philippe has struggled for runs on India A tour and wasn't at his best in a practice match against Bangladesh as well. Also, Peirson has not been in the best of forms this year as well.
Test return for Marsh?
Meanwhile, there have been conversations around an in-form Marsh making a comeback to Test cricket. Test skipper Cummins and head coach Andrew McDonald have kept the door ajar for Marsh who has been mainly playing as a speciallist batter of late.
"Pat said the door's open, then it's open," Marsh said. "I don't think I would be good enough to retire from Test cricket."
If called upon, Marsh would like to approach Test cricket the same way he does white-ball cricket. He is capable of changing a game in a session similar to what Travis Head does. However, it is yet to be seen whether he takes his flight home as scheduled or the team management asks him to stay in Australia for the Test series. Marsh's previous Test appearance was against India in December 2024 where he was dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah for 4 and 0. Also, he remained wicketless.
If Renshaw gets injured, they can include Marsh in the side as a batting option. Also, they can recall recall Jake Weatherald and give him a role in top order instead of playing him as opener.
Crucial Test series for Australia
Australia are currently at the top of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 standings with eight wins from 10 Tests. The South Africa Test series will be crucial for them to move in the direction of booking the final spot for the third consecutive time. If they lose to South Africa in the Test series, they will have added pressure on themselves in Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2027 in India. While India have a lot of catching up to do, New Zealand can sneak in into the top two. New Zealand have a two-Test series at home against India this year.
Australia’s Test squad vs South Africa -
Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Matt Renshaw, Steve Smith, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Beau Webster, Michael Neser, Alex Carey (wk), Josh Inglis (wk), Pat Cummins, Scott Boland, Josh Hazlewood, Matthew Kuhnemann, Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc.