Australia have been dealt another setback as Glenn Maxwell has been ruled out of the T20I series against New Zealand after fracturing his right wrist. The injury occurred in the nets at Mount Maunganui when a Mitchell Owen straight drive struck him while he was bowling.
Maxwell has returned home and will consult a specialist in the coming days. While the medical staff remain hopeful for a swift recovery, his availability for the upcoming five-match home series against India, starting October 29, is in doubt. He is more likely to return by mid-December for the Big Bash League, depending on specialist advice.
This injury extends Maxwell’s unfortunate run, which began with a broken leg in 2022.
“𝑰𝒕’𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒃𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑴𝒂𝒙𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍, 𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑨𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒂 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 2026 𝑻20 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝑪𝒖𝒑,” 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒎 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒔𝒖𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒅.
Philippe Returns to Australia’s T20I Squad
With Maxwell sidelined, Josh Philippe, the Sydney Sixers and New South Wales wicketkeeper-batter, has been drafted into the squad. Philippe was initially considered when Josh Inglis was ruled out with a calf injury, but Alex Carey was chosen instead. Now, with Australia short on keeping options, Philippe provides valuable cover.
Philippe last featured for Australia in 2023 and recently impressed on the Australia A tour of India, scoring 123 not out, 39, and 50 in two unofficial Tests. However, his T20 form has been inconsistent, with just one half-century in the last two BBL seasons and modest returns in 12 T20Is.
“𝑷𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒑𝒑𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂 𝒅𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑴𝒂𝒙𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝑨𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒂 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒖𝒑 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔,” 𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒅.
Australia’s Wider Injury Concerns
The absence of Maxwell adds to Australia’s growing injury list. They are already without Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, and captain Pat Cummins, who is managing a back issue. With Maxwell also serving as the team’s fifth bowling option, Australia will rely more on Matt Short, Marcus Stoinis, and Travis Head’s offspin to fill the void.
As the T20 World Cup 2026 draws closer, these injuries pose challenges to finding Australia’s strongest XI. For now, Maxwell’s recovery timeline and Philippe’s performance will be closely watched.
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