Pakistan loses third player in three days to injury as Boxing Day whitewash looms

Pakistan has suffered a third injury in three days, with off-spinner Abrar Ahmed ruled out of the Boxing Day Test.

Pakistan’s injury woes went from bad to worse Sunday with off-spinner Abrar

Ahmed the third player in as many days to be ruled out of the second Test

against Australia.

Ahmed missed their 360-run defeat in Perth with leg discomfort, and

while improving, he has not recovered sufficiently to take part in the Boxing

Day Test at Melbourne.

“Considering the nature of the injury and the workload required

from a spinner in a Test match, Abrar is not yet ready and will therefore not be

available for the second Test,” the Pakistan Cricket Board said.

“He will undergo a preliminary fitness test on December 25, which

will determine his probable return-to-play date.” It follows fellow spinner

Noman Ali being hospitalised with acute appendicitis and ruled out of the rest

of the three-match series.

Abrar Ahmed during the match between the PMs XI and Pakistan at Manuka Oval. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Mohammad Nawaz has been drafted as a replacement, the PCB said.

Pace bowler Khurram Shahzad is another injury casualty, sidelined for the last

two Tests with a stress fracture in the ribs along with an abdominal muscle tear

after impressing on his debut in Perth.

Rain is predicted for the first day’s play on December 26.

Carey vows to rebound from ‘leaner trot,’ regain white-ball spot

Alex Carey is far from resigned to being a Test-only player, declaring he is keen to win back his spots in Australia’s white-ball sides.

And the South Australian gloveman is hopeful of playing short-form cricket overseas during the off-season in a bid to bolster his chances.

Having been a mainstay of Australia’s one-day side for much of the past five years – even captaining the team on occasion – Carey was dropped one match into the Aussies’ recent World Cup campaign after a poor run with the bat in the lead-up to the tournament.

His replacement Josh Inglis held his spot for the remainder of the event, consigning Carey to hours in the nets where he worked closely with former Zimbabwe captain Andy Flower, who was consulting with the Aussies.

Carey was dropped throughout Australia’s World Cup tournament. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Carey, 32, also finds himself on the outer of Australia’s Twenty20 team, playing the most recent of his 38 internationals in the format in August, 2021.

Unlike 2023, Australia’s international schedule is relatively barren next year, with no Tests between mid-March and a home summer series agains India.

With Inglis and Matthew Wade ahead of him in the T20 pecking order, Carey is unlikely to find himself in the squad for the T20 World Cup next June, leaving him with months to fill.

Carey said he would look to use the clear air to pursue further white-ball cricket opportunities, in part to win back his spots.

“I still feel like I’ve had some pretty solid performances in the last 12 months in one-day cricket,” Carey said on Saturday at the MCG.

“The timing of a leaner trot led to that decision (in India) from the selection panel.

“But I feel like I’ve got a lot of good one-day cricket, lots of T20 cricket still left in me.

“I haven’t been able to play a lot of T20 cricket, which has been good of course playing Test cricket.

“But I’d love to get the opportunity to play some more T20 cricket over the winter, wherever that may be.”

The Test keeper will endeavour to win back his role in the shorter forms. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Australia plays three one-dayers against the West Indies in February but none more until a tour of Ireland and England in August.

Carey was among the Aussies to hit the nets in Melbourne three days out from the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan.

Reserve paceman Scott Boland was the only one of the specialist quicks to bowl, with Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins all on lighter duties.

Having remained in the headlines about his pro-Palestinian stance, Usman Khawaja sat out the optional session, as did Travis Head and David Warner.

The Aussies will have a heavier hitout on Sunday, as is standard fare two days out from a Test.