Australia all-rounder Mitchell Owen has been ruled out of the remainder of the white-ball series against South Africa. He suffered a concussion after being struck on the helmet by Kagiso Rabada during the second T20I in Darwin.
Cricket Australia (CA) confirmed on Thursday that Owen had passed the sideline assessment during the match, which Australia lost by 53 runs. However, he later reported concussion symptoms, forcing him into a mandatory 12-day stand-down period.
As a result, Mitchell Owen will miss the series-decider in Cairns on Saturday. He is also expected to miss a potential debut in the upcoming ODI series. CA announced that spin-bowling all-rounder Cooper Connolly will replace Owen in the squad.
Alongside Owen, batter Matt Short and fast bowler Lance Morris will also miss the ODI series due to injuries. Short is sidelined with a side strain, while Morris has lower back soreness and has returned to Perth for further assessment. Their spots have been filled by all-rounder Aaron Hardie and slow bowler Matthew Kuhnemann.
The T20I series between Australia and South Africa is currently tied at 1-1. Australia won the first match in Darwin by 17 runs, but the visitors leveled the series in the second game. The decider in Cairns is now under scrutiny as Australia adjusts their squad in response to injuries.
CA emphasized that player safety remains a priority. The team will continue monitoring Mitchell Owen’s recovery closely before considering his return for future matches. This incident highlights the risks faced by players in fast-paced T20 cricket, especially when facing top bowlers like Kagiso Rabada.
Fans and cricket analysts will be watching closely as Australia prepares for the series-deciding match. The absence of key players, including Mitchell Owen, could influence team strategy and lineup decisions.
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