Australia has made a squad change for the ICC Champions Trophy, bringing in allrounder Cooper Connolly to replace Matt Short, who has been ruled out due to a quad injury.
Short sustained the injury while fielding during Australia’s group-stage match against Afghanistan. Despite managing to bat, scoring 20 off 15 balls, he appeared to be in discomfort throughout his innings. His absence is a blow for Australia, especially after his match-winning 63 off 66 deliveries in the crucial win over England.
Connolly, a 21-year-old spin-bowling allrounder, was originally named as a travelling reserve for the tournament. His inclusion was approved by the ICC’s Event Technical Committee on Monday. Connolly made his ODI debut against England last year and now has an opportunity to contribute in a high-stakes tournament.
Australian captain Steve Smith had hinted at the likelihood of replacing Short after the Afghanistan match.
“I think we saw tonight he wasn’t moving very well. I think it’s probably going to be too quick between games for him to recover,” Smith told Prime Video.
With a semi-final clash against India in Dubai on Tuesday, Australia now faces a selection dilemma. While Jake Fraser-McGurk is a natural replacement as an opener, picking him would leave the team short of a bowling option. Short had bowled seven economical overs against Afghanistan, conceding just 21 runs, making his absence a tactical challenge.
Connolly’s left-arm spin could be a useful asset in Dubai’s conditions, where spin is expected to play a key role. However, Australia already has part-time options in Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne, alongside frontline spinners Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell.
Another potential replacement is seam-bowling allrounder Aaron Hardie, who has experience batting in the top order. However, his inclusion would likely require adjustments to the batting lineup.
Updated Australia Squad for the ICC Champions Trophy:
Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Spencer Johnson, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Adam Zampa, Cooper Connolly.
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