The Australian cricket team faces early selection challenges ahead of the first One-Day International against India in Perth this Sunday, with key players ruled out. Wicketkeeper Josh Inglis remains sidelined as he recovers from a lingering calf strain, while star leg-spinner Adam Zampa will miss the opener to be with his family for the imminent birth of his second child. These absences, compounded by Alex Carey‘s temporary release for a domestic fixture, have necessitated a late flurry of replacements and squad adjustments.

AUS vs IND, Perth ODI: Josh Inglis’ replacement and wicketkeeping carousel

The injury to Inglis, who hasn’t fully recovered from the calf strain he sustained on September 19, means he will miss the ODI opener, with his hopeful return slated for the third ODI in Sydney on October 25. His absence, combined with the planned release of the primary wicketkeeper, Carey, has forced a significant reshuffle behind the stumps for the match in Perth. Carey was released from the ODI squad to participate in South Australia’s second-round Sheffield Shield match against Queensland as part of his preparation for the Ashes, though he will rejoin the ODI squad for the second match in Adelaide.

To fill this gap, Josh Philippe has been called up from New South Wales and is set to take the gloves in Perth, marking his first One-Day International appearance since 2021 during the tour of West Indies. Philippe had recently joined the T20 squad in New Zealand as a replacement for Glenn Maxwell, highlighting his readiness and availability to step into the white-ball setup. Despite being named in the squad, Carey, who is usually a first-choice ODI specialist batter, will remain in Adelaide for his domestic commitments, further emphasizing the need for Philippe’s inclusion for the first match. Inglis’s calf injury is now just over four weeks old, and his fitness remains a question mark even for the third match, indicating a cautious approach to his recovery.

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AUS vs IND, Perth ODI: Adam Zampa’s absence and opportunity for an left-arm spinner

Zampa will miss the first ODI in Perth for family reasons, as he has chosen to remain in northern New South Wales with his wife, Harriet, who is in the late stages of pregnancy with their second child, with the due date quickly approaching. Given that Perth is geographically difficult to travel back from quickly in case of emergency, Zampa decided it was best to miss the opener to be close to home. The leg-spinner is expected to link up with the squad in Adelaide ahead of the second ODI on October 23, and he is likely to play the remaining matches in Adelaide and Sydney, as travelling back from those cities is much quicker and simpler.

His replacement for the Perth fixture is left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann, who has been added to the ODI squad. Kuhnemann now looks set to play his first ODI since 2022 and his first on Australian soil, providing an important spinning option alongside all-rounders Matt Short and Cooper Connolly. Despite featuring only once in the last year’s tours, in a T20 against West Indies, Kuhnemann has consistently toured with Australia’s white-ball squads throughout the recent winter fixtures. His recent domestic form for Tasmania has been promising, including a 2/51 performance in a one-day match last Thursday, and a stunning half-century with the bat. Kuhnemann’s long stint with the squad offers him a well-deserved opportunity to impress.

Australia updated squad for the ODI series vs India

Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey (wk), Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe (wk), Matt Renshaw, Matthew Short, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa

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