NZ vs AUS | Glenn Maxwell ruled out of T20I series against New Zealand with fractured wrist

‌Australia’s Glenn Maxwell will miss the three-match T20I series against New Zealand with a fractured wrist. The all-rounder injured his right hand after getting hit by a full-blooded drive from Mitchell Owen in the nets. He has been sent home to visit a specialist and is also in doubt to recover in time for the five-match T20I series against India at home later this month.

He will now be replaced by wicketkeeper-batter Josh Philippe in the 14-member squad, with the first game set to start at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Wednesday. The remaining two matches will also be played at the same venue on October 3rd and 4th.

Maxwell joins Josh Inglis, who was also ruled out of the New Zealand series with a calf injury. With Inglis unavailable, Philippe is expected to act as a backup wicketkeeper for Alex Carey, the only specialist gloveman in the current side.

Maxwell’s absence will pose a twin challenge to the Aussies as the middle-order appears thin without him and Inglis. Cameron Green has also opted out of the tour to focus on red-ball cricket ahead of the upcoming Ashes series. His off-spinners will also be badly missed as the visitors sweat to complete the fifth bowler’s overs.

The Punjab Kings batter played a key role in helping the Aussies clinch the three-match series against South Africa with an unbeaten half-century in the deciding game, his last T20I. His replacement Philippe, has been in excellent form in red-ball cricket, notching up a century and a fifty in his last three innings with Australia A against India A. He is in line to make a comeback into the Australian T20I side after playing his last match against India in December 2023.