SL VS AUS: Steve Smith Set To Be Ruled Out Of The ODI Series

Steve Smith is expected to be ruled out of Australia’s one-day encounter against Sri Lanka on Sunday night in Colombo, as the team strives to safeguard one of their most important assets ahead of the Test matches.

Smith had a mild quad strain after Thursday night’s loss. The series stands at 1-1 with three matches remaining. Australia’s injury list has grown to 7.

With Steve Smith Set To Sit Out, Josh Inglish Might Make His Debut

While the injury was not considered serious, it required bandaging throughout the game, and with the Test series starting in just 11 days, Australia’s medical team is expected to be cautious with him.

Josh Inglis, who has played seven Twenty20 internationals, might earn his one-day debut for Australia as a result of this.

After regular white-ball spinner, Ashton Agar developed a side strain, Queensland left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann, 25, was called from Australia A squad and hurried into the national team on Thursday night.

Kuhnemann and Travis Head, who played for Australia A as well, were transported from Hambantota to Kandy, with Head filling in for Marcus Stoinis.

Both players are scheduled to return on Sunday night, with Stoinis (side strain) joining Sean Abbott (broken finger) and Kane Richardson (hamstring tendon) as the tour’s early evacuees.

Mitch Marsh (strained calf) and Mitchell Starc (cut finger) are still out. Agar is still in Sri Lanka, hoping to be well enough to be regarded as a Test spin option with Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Swepson.

Due to Adam Zampa’s unavailability owing to the birth of his first child, Australia’s white-ball spin options had already been curtailed.

While the pace may have been the undoing of Australia in their most recent one-day encounter, spin appears to be the big test for the remainder of the tour.

Possible Australian team: Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Kuhnemann, Josh Hazlewood.

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