Josh Inglis has been ruled out of the remaining ODIs against South Africa after sustaining a fractured finger during the series opener in Durban. The injury occurred midway through Australia’s fielding innings, and the Western Australian managed only three runs before falling to a reverse sweep against Bjorn Fortuin. The setback comes on the heels of a strong finish to the preceding Zimbabwe series, where Inglis notched his second ODI century in Harare.
“The West Australian will return home for scans with his availability for the three-match Test series subject to further assessment and progress,” a Cricket Australia statement confirmed.
Inglis’ absence forces a recall for Alex Carey in Johannesburg on Sunday, reinstating him to the one-day wicketkeeping role. In recent matches where both have featured, Inglis has assumed the gloves with Carey fielding in the outfield.
Inglis is also a member of the Test squad as a spare batter and reserve wicketkeeper. He has played five Tests as a specialist batter, featuring everywhere from No. 4 to No. 7. He announced himself with a century on debut against Sri Lanka in early 2025 but has struggled to replicate that form, failing to pass 32 in his subsequent six innings.
Should Inglis fail to recover in time for the Durban Test next month, Australia will face a wicketkeeping contingency. Without a specialist backup, the side would be exposed if Carey were to suffer an injury—a risk they must accept for the second ODI at the Wanderers given the insufficient time to fly in a replacement.
Alex Carey will return to wicketkeeping duties in the last two ODIs against South Africa•AFP/Getty Images
Carey has not missed a Test since his debut in the 2021-22 Ashes, recently celebrating his 50th appearance against Bangladesh in Mackay. Inglis did assume wicketkeeping duties during the Jamaica Test last year after Carey suffered a concussion on day two.
Potential reinforcements are currently on the Australia A tour of India. Josh Philippe and Sam Harper are the wicketkeepers in that squad, which has just completed its first four-day match. Philippe scored 14 and 7 in a heavy defeat, while Harper has emerged as a serious contender following an impressive 2025-26 Sheffield Shield season for Victoria, where he made a significant impact as an opener.
If selectors opt against calling up a specialist reserve gloveman—or decide to summon two players—the door opens for Nathan McSweeney or the experienced Peter Handscomb. Handscomb was the leading Shield run-scorer last season and possesses wicketkeeping capability.
Form among the Australia A batters remains a concern; none passed fifty in the four-day game. Pace bowler Fergus O’Neill top-scored with 47, followed by Jason Sangha’s 46 in the first innings. The domestic first-class season has yet to commence in Australia, with the first round of the Sheffield Shield overlapping the opening Test in South Africa.
Jake Weatherald, dropped after the first Test against Bangladesh in Darwin, is unlikely to be recalled so soon despite a recent 92 in the One-Day Cup.
The last instance of Australia calling up a third wicketkeeper to a Test squad occurred during the 2023 Ashes, when Jimmy Peirson joined the tour to cover for Inglis, who returned home for the birth of his first child.
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