Photo Credit: Western Australian Cricket Association
WA pace bowler Matthew Kelly will be unavailable for the upcoming Australia A series against New Zealand A in Queensland after injuring his quad at training last week.
A timeframe for the 28-year-old’s return will be reviewed closer to the start of the 2023-24 domestic season.
Batter Hilton Cartwright, meanwhile, is unlikely to be available when WA’s campaign begins next month, following recent surgery to repair a meniscus tear.
Both players were pivotal to the State’s Marsh Sheffield Shield and Marsh One-Day Cup titles in 2022-23.
Kelly finished the Shield season with a team-high tally of 35 wickets at 15.77, earning him his maiden Australia A call-up.
The accurate right-armer also collected five wickets from as many One-Day Cup matches and was one of only four people to feature during last year’s Shield, One-Day Cup and KFC Big Bash League finals.
Cartwright, crowned WA’s Laurie Sawle medalist in 2021-22, enjoyed a consistent 2022-23 campaign, amassing 629 Shield runs including seven half-centuries.
Despite Kelly’s absence, there will be strong Western Australian representation during the Australia A series.
WA Men’s Head Coach Adam Voges will mentor the squad, which features opener Cameron Bancroft (selected for four-day matches), swing bowler Joel Paris (four-day), wicketkeeper-batter Josh Philippe (four-day and one-day), and hard-hitting right-hander Ashton Turner (one-day).
Australia A’s first unofficial Test starts on Monday 28 August at Allan Border Field in Brisbane, before a second four-day match starting Monday 4 September at Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay.
The series will remain in Mackay for the first of three 50-over games on Sunday 10 September, before returning to Allan Border Field for games on Wednesday 13 September and Friday 15 September.
