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Stoinis, Agar latest tour casualties

3 minute read

Marcus Stoinis has been forced out of of Australia's ODI series in Sri Lanka with a side strain while Ashton Agar is also nursing an injury.

MARCUS STOINIS of Australia bats during the One Day International match between Australia and England at Perth Stadium in Perth, Australia.
MARCUS STOINIS of Australia bats during the One Day International match between Australia and England at Perth Stadium in Perth, Australia. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images

Marcus Stoinis has been ruled out of Australia's cricket tour of Sri Lanka while Ashton Agar's injury concerns have pushed Matt Kuhnemann within reach of an international debut.

The pair's setbacks, both issues with their sides, in Tuesday night's ODI series-opening win took Australia's injury toll to six inside the first two weeks of their tour, which includes four more 50-over clashes and two Tests.

Stoinis was ruled out on Wednesday night while Agar will remain with the squad, with Test batsman Travis Head and Queensland spinner Kuhnemann pulled from Australia A's tour match to replace them.

Kuhnemann (25) is a left-arm off-spinner like Agar and could debut in Thursday's second ODI in Kandy alongside state teammate Mitchell Swepson, Australia likely to lean heavily on spin now they're exhausted of fit fast-bowling allrounders.

Pacemen Kane Richardson (hamstring) and Sean Abbott (broken finger) have already been sent home from Sri Lanka to recover, while Mitch Marsh (calf) and Mitchell Starc (finger) are still sidelined.

Cameron Green is also being held back from bowling for at least another game and would only be selected as a specialist batsman until then.

Spinner Agar, 28, was a chance to partner Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Swepson in a three-pronged spin attack during the Test series, but skipper Pat Cummins is confident in the depth he has at his disposal.

Spinners Todd Murphy, Tanveer Sangha, who has been drafted into the Australia A team to replace Kuhnemann are all in the country and could be drafted into the Test squad for a shock debut.

"I think we've got a bit of time to gather some info," Cummins said.

"There's still one more four-day game next week. We've still got a couple of guys back in Australia.

"If someone has been picked for the Test side, we'll think they're ready."

Starc was initially slated to return for the third ODI, but Cummins said the star left-armer won't be rushed.

"He's a bit of a wait and see," Cummins said.

"He had a bowl the other day. I think the plan was to get the stitches out in the next day or two.

"The key with that is we don't want to rush him, we don't want to put the Test series in jeopardy by reopening that too early.

"There's no timeline on that. A good result would be if he played some of this series."

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