Australia’s preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup face a setback as all-rounder Marcus Stoinis has been sidelined from the three-match T20I series against New Zealand due to a back issue. Aaron Hardie, another West Australian all-rounder, has been drafted into the squad as a replacement for Stoinis.
Stoinis, who experienced discomfort during the warm-up of the second T20I against West Indies, managed to play through the match but subsequently missed the third encounter and has now been ruled out of the New Zealand series. Despite his exclusion, Stoinis is expected to regain fitness in time for the IPL commencing in late March.
Meanwhile, Australia’s vice-captain and wicketkeeper Matthew Wade will miss the first game of the series in Wellington due to the impending birth of his third child, with availability expected for the final two matches in Auckland.
Hardie, currently featuring for Western Australia in a Sheffield Shield match, will join the squad before the series opener. His inclusion provides depth to Australia’s all-round options, particularly with Stoinis facing recurring injury concerns.
In Stoinis’s absence, the burden on Australia’s all-rounders increases, with captain Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell also dealing with their own injury management. Additionally, spin bowling all-rounder Matthew Short’s availability for the New Zealand tour remains uncertain due to a hamstring injury suffered during the ODI series against West Indies.
With the T20 World Cup on the horizon, Hardie gets an opportunity to stake his claim as a backup all-rounder, providing support in both batting and bowling departments. The return of Steven Smith and Travis Head to the T20 side for the New Zealand tour adds depth to Australia’s batting lineup as they seek to solidify their squad composition for the global tournament.
