Callum Vidler Out of Australia A Tour Due to Stress Fracture

Melbourne, Sep 8 (PTI) Queensland's promising fast bowler Callum Vidler has been sidelined from Australia A's forthcoming white-ball tour of India due to a partial stress fracture in his back. This development adds to the growing injury concerns for Australia's pace contingent.

The 19-year-old joins the ranks of Test captain Pat Cummins, along with fellow pacers Lance Morris and Brody Couch, who are already benched due to injuries, thinning Australia’s fast-bowling resources ahead of the crucial tour that features clashes against India A starting September 30. Vidler's most recent outing saw him impress with a five-wicket haul in the Sheffield Shield 2024-25 final against South Australia, although his efforts were in vain as Queensland succumbed to defeat.

Joe Dawes, Queensland's general manager of high performance, commented on the injury: "Callum experienced some back pain during training and promptly reported it. Unfortunately, the scans came back confirming a stress fracture, so he will spend some time recovering and then start a rehab plan." Dawes further added that despite Vidler's disappointment, there is a consensus that injuries are integral to the game's challenges. "We'll work closely with him to ensure he has the best recovery to get him ready for a return to cricket," Dawes assured.

Before Vidler's setback, the Australia A squad had already faced withdrawals of Morris and Couch from the red-ball segment of the series, beginning September 16, due to injuries. Couch, troubled by a side strain, is anticipated to be fit in time for the Western Australia's upcoming Shield season, while Morris is projected to be away from cricket for a year.

Vidler has been a significant part of Australia's Under-19 World Cup-winning team in 2024. With his absence, Henry Thornton is set to join the squad for the three white-ball encounters against India A.

In other injury news, Australia's leading fast bowler, Pat Cummins, was recently ruled out of the national side's forthcoming white-ball matches against New Zealand and India. Scans revealed a lumbar bone stress injury, clouding his participation in the first Ashes Test, commencing on November 21 in Perth.

Throughout the India tour, Australia A is slated to play two unofficial Test matches followed by three unofficial ODIs.