Cricket

Allrounder Cooper Connolly's T20I aspirations have been dashed after he sustained a fractured left hand during the third ODI against Pakistan in Perth. The injury, which occurred when he was struck by a Mohammad Hasnain delivery, has ruled him out of the upcoming T20I series.Connolly, who made his international debut in September, was struck on the glove while attempting a pull shot in the 17th over. Despite facing one more delivery, he soon realized the severity of the injury and left the field for assessment. Subsequent scans confirmed the fracture to the fourth metacarpal of his left hand.The injury is a significant setback for the Australian selectors, who view Connolly as a promising all-rounder with potential for the 2026 T20 World Cup. His finishing skills with the bat and left-arm spin are highly valued in Australian cricket.Connolly's absence from the T20I series will also impact the Perth Scorchers, who are set to begin their BBL campaign on December 15. The Scorchers will closely monitor his recovery timeline, as he would have been a key player for them prior to the injury.The injury also affects Western Australia's Sheffield Shield campaign, as Connolly would have been available for their remaining two matches before the BBL.Connolly's debut tour of the UK in September saw him play two T20Is without batting or taking any wickets. He was part of the Australia A squad for the recent matches against India A, where he scored 37 in the first innings of the opening game.The Australian selectors will now need to find a replacement for Connolly in the T20I series against Pakistan. The injury highlights the importance of player depth and the challenges of managing workloads in a busy international schedule.

Western Australia's hopes of securing a first-innings lead against Tasmania were boosted by a resilient batting performance on day two of their Sheffield Shield clash at the WACA.Despite a disappointing start that saw opener Cameron Bancroft depart cheaply for the third consecutive match, Josh Inglis and Cooper Connolly combined for an unbroken 119-run partnership to guide WA to 219 for 4 at stumps.Inglis, who struck a century in the season opener against Queensland, once again showcased his impressive form, reaching a half-century off just 57 balls. Connolly provided valuable support, helping WA recover from a precarious position.Earlier, Tasmania had posted a competitive 277 in their first innings, thanks to a late-order rally led by Mitch Owen (69) and Matt Kuhnemann. Corey Rocchiccioli was the standout bowler for WA, claiming 4 for 70.WA's chase got off to a shaky start when Bancroft fell for 8, followed by captain Sam Whiteman and Mitchell Marsh. However, Hilton Cartwright's aggressive half-century before tea provided a much-needed boost.Cartwright's departure after the interval due to the birth of his second child left WA in a spot of bother. However, Inglis and Connolly stepped up to the plate, turning the tide in WA's favor.With the match evenly poised heading into day three, WA will be aiming to build on their solid batting performance and establish a significant first-innings lead. Tasmania, on the other hand, will be looking to make early inroads and regain control of the contest.

Australia's T20I and ODI squads for the upcoming tours of Scotland and England have been announced, marking a shift towards the future. Perth Scorchers allrounder Cooper Connolly has earned his maiden international call-up for the T20I series, while Jake Fraser-McGurk has been included in both the T20I and ODI squads.Connolly, despite limited domestic T20 experience, impressed in the 2022-23 BBL final, securing the title for the Scorchers. His impressive strike rate of 145.80 and strong performance on his Sheffield Shield debut have earned him a spot in the national team.Mitchell Marsh will continue as captain for both the T20I and ODI sides, with Pat Cummins rested for the entire tour. Mitchell Starc and Glenn Maxwell will miss the T20Is but will join the squad for the ODIs. Matthew Short, who was a traveling reserve at the T20 World Cup, will remain at home for the birth of his first child before joining for the five one-dayers against England.Ashton Agar and Matthew Wade have been dropped from the T20I squad, while David Warner has retired from international cricket. Fraser-McGurk is expected to establish himself as Warner's successor at the top of the order in both limited-overs formats.In the T20I squad, Xavier Bartlett and Spencer Johnson will join Josh Hazlewood in the pace attack. Allrounders Cameron Green and Aaron Hardie are included across both formats, with Green likely to see more opportunities. Josh Inglis will replace Wade as the wicketkeeper in T20Is."This tour gives us a great opportunity to bring in some new players and give senior players time to prepare for the home summer," said national selector George Bailey. "We are particularly pleased to offer Cooper his first opportunity in the T20 squad."With the Champions Trophy on the horizon, the white-ball series against Pakistan and a home Test series against India, the selectors have invested in integrating new players into the squad. Alex Carey returns to the ODI squad as Inglis' understudy.