Australia will go into the third and final ODI against South Africa without Nathan Ellis and Joel Davies, after both were withdrawn because of injuries. The team has not named replacements, which leaves their balance unchanged for the series finale in on Wednesday, September 30.
Injury setbacks reshape Australia’s ODI squad
Ellis suffered a left side strain, while Davies will head home with a hamstring strain picked up while fielding as a substitute in the second ODI. The double withdrawal adds to Australia’s recent fast-bowling and fielding injury concerns on tour, especially as the side has already had to manage multiple fitness issues across the campaign.
Ellis had been one of the more productive bowlers in the series. In the opening ODI in Durban, he finished with figures of 3/57, giving him a wicket-taking impact rate of three wickets in one outing before his injury interruption.
| Player | Injury | Match impact | Status |
|---|
| Nathan Ellis | Left side strain | 3/57 in Durban ODI | Withdrawn from final ODI |
| Joel Davies | Hamstring strain | Did not feature in a match | Sent home |
Ellis’ workload ended early in Johannesburg
In the second ODI in Johannesburg, Ellis bowled only four overs before leaving the attack and did not return to complete his full quota. That limited spell is notable because it suggests the injury surfaced during a match situation rather than after an extended workload, which often complicates recovery timelines for seam bowlers.
For Australia, the immediate issue is not only the loss of a wicket-taking option but also the reduction in bowling depth. Ellis’ series wicket tally and strike potential had provided value in a side already missing Billy Stanlake, who suffered a side strain earlier in the South Africa tour following an injury in Zimbabwe.
How the bowling injuries compare
| Player | Tour injury type | Tour stage | Outcome |
|---|
| Billy Stanlake | Side strain | Previous assignment | Tour-ending injury |
| Nathan Ellis | Left side strain | South Africa ODI series | Returned home for assessment |
| Joel Davies | Hamstring strain | South Africa ODI series | Returned home |
Davies exits without a match appearance
Davies’ injury is less about lost output and more about lost squad depth. He had not yet played a game on the tour, but his withdrawal still narrows Australia’s bench options and reduces flexibility in selection, particularly in a series where availability has already been affected by fitness concerns.
Hamstring strains are particularly relevant for fielders and all-round support players because they can affect sprinting, throwing, and recovery between overs. Even without a first-team appearance, Davies’ absence reflects the broader toll of tour-level workload on fringe players and substitutes.
Broader selection impact ahead of England series
Ellis is expected to return home for further assessment and rehabilitation, with the objective of being available for Australia’s home ODI series against England in November. That recovery window gives the national side some time, but the next step will depend on medical evaluation and how quickly he can regain full fitness.
There is also some uncertainty around Josh Inglis ahead of the Test series beginning October 9, after he fractured a finger in the ODI opener in Durban. While that injury is separate from the Ellis-Davies withdrawals, it adds to a running fitness watchlist that Australia will need to manage carefully over the coming weeks.
| Timeline | Player | Relevant event |
|---|
| September 30 | Ellis, Davies | Withdrawn from third ODI |
| October 9 | Josh Inglis | Test series begins, availability uncertain |
| November | Nathan Ellis | Targeting return for home ODI series vs England |
What Australia lose in statistical terms
From a performance perspective, Ellis was the only one of the two to register on-field production in the series. His 3/57 in Durban showed both wicket-taking ability and enough control to be considered a tactical option, while his early exit in Johannesburg prevented Australia from using his full quota of overs.
That matters because ODI squad construction often depends on whether a bowler can consistently deliver all 10 overs. When a frontline option is reduced to four overs, the captain and support staff must reallocate overs across the remaining attack, which can affect matchups and death-overs planning.
Series context and squad management
Australia’s decision not to call up replacements suggests the squad still has enough depth to complete the final match without reshuffling. However, the repeated strain injuries across the tour indicate that the workload profile has been demanding, particularly for seamers and players covering fielding duties as substitutes.
The larger concern is not one isolated withdrawal, but the accumulation of absences. With Stanlake already unavailable, Ellis sidelined, Davies returning home, and Inglis under a cloud, Australia’s medical and selection management is becoming a key subplot of the tour.
For the final ODI, the immediate objective will be to maintain bowling structure and fielding efficiency without two squad members who had been part of the wider touring group. In a format where availability is often as important as form, Australia’s injury list is now a measurable factor in the series outcome.