Josh Inglis has been ruled out of Australia's remaining two ODIs against South Africa after fracturing his right index finger during the opening match in Durban. The wicketkeeper-batter is also doubtful for Australia's three-match Test series next month.
Inglis suffered the injury to his right index finger midway through Australia's fielding innings. He continued to bat despite the blow but was out for three after attempting a reverse sweep against Bjorn Fortuin.
Inglis will return home for scans to determine his availability for Tests, Cricket Australia said. His Test availability will be decided after scans.
Alex Carey to return as Australia's ODI wicketkeeper, with Josh Inglis injured
With Inglis unavailable, Alex Carey will return to the wicketkeeping role for the second one-day international against South Africa at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Sunday. In recent games, both players have been available; Inglis kept wickets while Carey played as an outfielder.
Australia, however, will not have a specialist reserve wicketkeeper for the Johannesburg ODI and there was no time to find a replacement before the match. The selectors are expected to take that risk for the second game before deciding on the squad for the third ODI.
The injury comes as a blow to Inglis, who was in form for his entry in the South Africa series, with his second ODI century coming in the final match of Australia's preceding series against Zimbabwe in Harare.
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Who could replace Josh Inglis in Australia's Test squad?
Inglis is a member of Australia's Test squad as a reserve batter and wicketkeeper, having played five Tests as a specialist batter, featuring in between No. 4 and no. 7 in the batting order. He made a century on Test debut against Sri Lanka in early 2025 but has not scored more than 32 in his subsequent six innings.
If Inglis is unable to recover in time for the opening Test against South Africa in Durban, Australia could have to consider bringing in another wicketkeeper to ensure Alex Carey has cover.
Carey has been Australia's first-choice Test wicketkeeper since his debut during the 2021–22 Ashes and reached his 50th Test appearance against Bangladesh in Mackay last month. Inglis has previously stood in behind the stumps, including in Jamaica last year after Carey suffered a concussion on the second day of the match.
Australia currently have two wicketkeepers on their Australia A tour of India: Josh Philippe and Sam Harper. Philippe scored 14 and seven in Australia A's heavy defeat in the opening four-day match, while Harper enjoyed an impressive 2025–26 season for Victoria, making a significant contribution as an opener in the Sheffield Shield.
Neither wicketkeeper made a half-century in the Australia A match, with pace bowler Fergus O'Neill top-scoring with 47 in the first innings and Jason Sangha scoring 46.
The selectors could also consider a player who can provide wicketkeeping cover alongside Carey. Nathan McSweeney and Peter Handscomb are among the possible options with Handscomb having finished as the leading run-scorer in the previous Sheffield Shield season and also possessing wicketkeeping experience.
The last time Australia called up a wicketkeeper other than Carey or Inglis to a Test squad was during the 2023 Ashes, when Jimmy Peirson joined the touring party as cover after Inglis returned home for the birth of his first child.
The timing of the Sheffield Shield season could further complicate Australia's options, with the opening round overlapping with the first Test against South Africa and limiting the pool of domestic players available for selection.