SA vs AUS: Green, Renshaw's injuries add to Australia's woes ahead of Test series

Australia have suffered fresh injury concerns ahead of the upcoming Test series against South Africa as Cameron Green and Matt Renshaw suffered blows during the third ODI on Wednesday, September 30 at Senwes Park, Potchefstroom. 

Green got hit in the groin region while batting and appeared in further pain two balls later after swinging hard at the delivery; he was eventually dismissed. He was supposed to bowl some overs in the second innings, having not bowled on the entire tour to date due to a shoulder issue. However, he did not take the field at all when South Africa batted.

On the other hand, Renshaw copped a blow on the wrist while fielding at square leg at the start of the 14th over. He stopped a powerful pull shot from Ryan Rickelton that bounced into his right wrist and left the field at the end of the over. He didn’t return for the remainder of South Africa's innings.

Earlier, injuries to Josh Inglis (broken finger), Nathan Ellis (side strain), Jack Edwards (hamstring), and Joel Davies (hamstring) left Australia with only 12 fit players for the final ODI. Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood was also resting ahead of the upcoming three-match Test series as Test duo Marnus Labuschagne and Beau Webster were forced to substitute field.

Australia’s stand-in captain Mitchell Marsh said that he hadn’t spoken to both Green and Renshaw after the match, but hoped that the duo would be fully fit for the Test series.

"I haven't spoken to them yet, but hopefully both are okay. [Green was] locked in the bowl a few overs today. He had a nice build, and it would have been nice for him to have a bowl. But yeah, it wasn't meant to be, and I'm sure that it won't affect his prep too much, hopefully,” Marsh said after the match.

No update on Josh Inglis

Meanwhile, Josh Inglis has flown back to Australia to recover from the fractured finger he suffered in the series opener. The selectors haven’t ruled him out of the upcoming Test series yet, but they also haven’t added any cover for him with just eight days to go before the first Test in Durban, starting on October 9.

Australia will need a spare wicketkeeper in the squad for the first Test in case of a late injury or concussion to Alex Carey.