Australia will miss the services of wicketkeeper Josh Inglis and leg-spinner Adam Zampa for the first game of the three-ODI series against India in Perth on Sunday (October 19), opening the door for Josh Philippe to make a long-awaited return to international cricket.
Cricket Australia confirmed that Inglis is still nursing the calf strain he sustained during training with Western Australia last month, which also ruled him out of the T20I series in New Zealand earlier this month.
With Alex Carey released from the ODI squad to play in South Australia’s Sheffield Shield match against Queensland as part of his Ashes preparation, Philippe will don the keeping gloves in Perth.
Philippe’s last appearance for Australia in ODIs was on the 2021 tour of West Indies. His earned the recall after strong run of form for Australia A and the T20 side.
During Australia A’s tour of India last month, Philippe scored 123* and 50, preceded by an 85-run knock against Sri Lanka A in July. He also featured in the T20I squad in New Zealand as a replacement for injured Glenn Maxwell.
Philippe’s addition gives Australia a familiar face behind the stumps, with Inglis’ return expected for the third ODI in Sydney on October 25, according to a Cricket Australia spokesperson.
As for Zampa, the frontline spinner will miss the series opener due to family reasons. Matthew Kuhnemann has been included in the squad and could play his first ODI since 2022.
Kuhnemann recently claimed 2 for 51 in a one-dayer for Tasmania and has been touring regularly with Australia’s white-ball squads. Zampa is likely to rejoin the team in Adelaide ahead of the second ODI on October 23.
Carey too will rejoin the ODI squad in Adelaide before the second match. He remains a vital cog in Australia’s Ashes plans and will continue his workload management under national selectors’ guidance.
