Australia’s Cooper Connolly Ruled Out Of T20I Series Vs Pakistan After Fracturing Left Arm

Last Updated:November 10, 2024, 18:22 IST

Connolly fractured his fourth metacarpal on his left hand after being struck by Mohammed Hasnain while batting.

Cooper Connolly will not be a part of Australia’s T20I squad against Pakistan. (Image: AP)

Australia’s 21-year-old all-rounder, Cooper Connolly has been ruled out of the ongoing T20I series against Pakistan after fracturing his left hand during the final ODI in Perth.

According to Cricket Australia’s official note, Connolly fractured his fourth metacarpal on his left hand after being struck by Mohammed Hasnain while batting. The youngster is set to consult a specialist tomorrow and his replacement will be named in due course.

He had faced one more delivery after being hit but left the field along with the team physio and retired hurt. After the scans, he was back in the stadium and was seated with the Australian squad. The Aussies however, were unable to turn things around as they suffered a defeat by eight wickets, thus helping Pakistan take their first ODI series win against the Aussies Down Under in the last 22 years.

Connolly made his Australia debut on the tour of the United Kingdom in September, where he played a T20I game against Scotland and England respectively, but he didn’t get to bat and bowled five wicketless overs.

He was also part of the Australia A side that played the first 4-day game against India A at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in MacKay. He had scored 37 runs in the first innings and then joined the national side for the ODI series against Pakistan.

His fitness will be closely monitored by the Perth Scorchers considering that the Big Bash League is set to begin on December 15.

Australia on the other hand will look to turn things around as they hope to find their groove in the three-match T20I series. The three games will take place at The Gabba, Sydney Cricket Ground and the Bellerive Oval on November 14, 16 and 18 respectively.

The visitors have begun a new era under the leadership of Mohammad Rizwan who was announced as the white-ball skipper, before the tour. His time as a captaincy, came with a positive start as the side created history on their first white-ball series.

(with IANS Inputs)