Nathan Ellis’s chance to secure a position in Australia’s Twenty20 International team has been ruined by a hamstring injury he suffered in the Hundred. He will miss the remaining matches in their series against Scotland as well as the eight white-ball matches that follow in England.
Ellis saw the Scotland series as a unique opportunity to spearhead Australia’s attack, since Josh Hazlewood was sidelined due to a calf niggle and Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins were rested. However, Cricket Australia declared on Friday that he would be returning home soon after realizing he had not fully healed from his hamstring tendon injury to be considered for selection.
Ellis would especially be frustrated with the timing of the injury, which he sustained while playing for London Spirit in the Hundred. He has featured in 17 Twenty20 Internationals including 3 World Cup games, but his chances have mostly been contingent on the rest of one or more of the “big three” quicks.
Riley Meredith, who participated in Australia’s crushing of Scotland in the opening T20 International on Wednesday, his first international action since 2021, will remain with the team as cover. Due to this, Somerset has to prepare for Meredith’s absence on T20 Blast Finals Day, which is scheduled for this Saturday between the second and third games of the England series.
Hazlewood has landed in England ahead of Wednesday’s first T20I at the Utilita Bowl. “He will join the squad in Southampton having recovered from a minor calf strain,” a CA spokesperson said. Ellis was also supposed to play in the five-match ODI series that begins on September 19 against England; however, no replacement has been announced as of yet.
Theoretically, Meredith may be freed to play for Somerset on Saturday, Finals Day at Edgbaston. However, following their victory in the quarterfinals on Thursday, Lewis Gregory, the captain of the team, stated that they did not anticipate having him available. Somerset does not have any players in England’s T20I squad, so will have their full squad at their disposal.
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