Hasnain's Fierce Delivery Rules Connolly Out of Australia-Pakistan T20 Series
- Abeera Marium Siddiqui
- November 11, 2024
- 11:44 am
- 23
- Sports
Australian all-rounder Cooper Connolly will miss the upcoming T20I series against Pakistan after taking a nasty blow to his left hand during the final ODI in Perth. The young player was struck by Mohammad Hasnain while attempting a pull shot in the 17th over, leading to a fractured fourth metacarpal.
Cricket Australia quickly confirmed the extent of the injury through an official statement:
"Cooper Connolly has a fractured fourth metacarpal on his left hand, ruling him out of the Australian men's T20 side to play Pakistan. He was struck on the hand by Mohammad Hasnain while batting in the final ODI against Pakistan in Perth," Cricket Australia said.
The incident unfolded when Connolly faced Hasnain in the 17th over. After taking the blow on the second delivery, he managed to face one more ball before the pain became unbearable. A quick assessment from the physio led to his retirement from the field, with subsequent scans revealing the full extent of the damage.
New South Wales wicketkeeper-batter Josh Philippe has been called up as Connolly's replacement, with Cricket Australia noting that "Connolly will consult a specialist in Perth tomorrow."
The injury comes at a particularly tough time for the 21-year-old all-rounder, who had been making steady progress in international cricket. Connolly had just started finding his feet after making his debut during the UK tour in September, where he played T20Is against both Scotland and England. While he didn't get a chance to bat in those matches, he did bowl five overs across the two games.
His recent form with Australia A against India A had caught selectors' attention, particularly his knock of 37 in the first innings at Mackay before joining the ODI squad. The Australian selectors have been keeping a close eye on Connolly, especially valuing his finishing abilities with the bat and his left-arm spin – a combination that's not common in Australian cricket.
The timing of the injury also raises concerns for domestic cricket. The Perth Scorchers will be watching Connolly's recovery timeline closely, with the BBL set to begin on December 15. Before that, Western Australia had planned to use him in two more Sheffield Shield games, plans that are now on hold.
The T20I series against Pakistan kicks off at The Gabba on November 14, followed by matches at the Sydney Cricket Ground (November 16) and Bellerive Oval (November 18). The Australian team will need to adjust their strategy, particularly given Connolly's unique skill set that offered both batting depth and bowling options.
For Connolly, this setback interrupts what had been shaping up as a promising international season. The focus now shifts to his recovery as both national and domestic teams await updates on his return timeline.
The injury adds another layer of challenge for Australia as they prepare to face Pakistan in the T20I series, looking to bounce back after their recent ODI series loss – Pakistan's first ODI series win in Australia in 22 years.
