Australia have taken a setback since their heavyweight opener Matthew Short has injured and been eliminated from the Champions Trophy semifinal battle against India in Dubai. Short sustained a quad injury during last week’s ultimate Group B match against Afghanistan in Australia and will not be able to be fit for the critical game.
Traveling reserve Cooper Connolly has been marketed as Short’s replacement by the world champions. Given India’s left-arm spinners’ performance in Dubai, Australia could be tempted to field their past Under-19 World Cup captain in the first semifinal of the tournament set to take place on March 4 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium since Connolly is a batting allrounder who can bowl from the left.
Since his international debut in September last year, Connolly has been in one Test, three ODIs, and two T20Is for Australia. Last season, he also received BBL Player of the Tournament honours with Glenn Maxwell.
Before India secured top spot in Group A by defeating New Zealand on Sunday, both the South Africa and Australia teams were in Dubai. Having finished first in Group B, South Africa will now head to Lahore for the second semifinal on Wednesday against New Zealand.
Australia’s first game of the continuous competition in Dubai will be this one, and their first challenge will be to accustom to the playing conditions given the slow nature of the pitches compared to those in Pakistan.
Australia leg spinner Adam Zampa claimed, “We have of obviously played a few games in Pakistan, back and forth in between cities, but I suppose with the nature of this tournament,”
“It shifts somewhat from Pakistan in terms of conditions. “There may be a possibility to provide a few more chances; we shall see,” he noted.
