Ben Dwarshuis sustains suspected pectoral strain on debut during ENG vs AUS 2024 1st ODI
Australia left-arm seamer Ben Dwarshuis' ODI debut was cruelly cut short after he suffered an injury while fielding in the series opener against England at Trent Bridge, Nottingham on Thursday, September 19. The pacer came in as a replacement for Xavier Bartlett, who was injured during the recently concluded T20I series.
Dwarshuis was handed his ODI cap, with the Australia squad ravaged by illness during the buildup to the contest. The likes of Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc were on the bench, leaving the 30-year-old as the sole frontline seamer, with the rest being all-rounders.
The left-arm seamer made an impact with the new ball against England's new-look opening combination of Phil Salt and Ben Duckett. He even claimed his first ODI wicket to conclude his first spell, with a delivery that skidded off the surface and breached Salt's bat and pad gap to castle him.
Unfortunately, Dwarshuis suffered an injury while throwing the ball from the boundary while being off balance. He was briefly off the field to get the injury assessed by the medical staff but did not return and he was seen seated in the dressing room with a brace on.
Cricket Australia confirmed that Dwarshuis will not participate in the remainder of the clash.
"Unfortunate news for Ben Dwarshuis and Australia's already decimated pace stocks with CA confirming he's sustained a 'suspected pectoral strain' while throwing off-balance from the boundary during his ODI debut. He won't return to the field in today's match," the statement by CA read.
Australia resorted to bowling only spin from the 32nd over onwards. Frontline spinner Adam Zampa, playing his 100th ODI, was joined by the part-time trio of Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, and Matt Short.
The spinners picked up a combined nine wickets, with the leg-spin duo finishing with three wickets apiece.
Dwarshuis' injury escalates the ongoing Australian pace bowling crisis
Even before the tour, Australia were without Spencer Johnson and Nathan Ellis who suffered injuries after playing The Hundred 2024 campaign in England.
The side's woes increased when Xavier Bartlett walked off the field during the first T20I due to a side strain. The right-arm pacer's tour unfortunately came to an end right there itself.
Australia's spin onslaught did have an effect on England's proceedings with the bat. Led by Harry Brook in Buttler's absence, the hosts crumbled from 213-2 to 315 all out.