WA wicketkeeper Josh Inglis ruled out of New Zealand series after injury blow, replaced by Alex Carey

Josh Inglis has suffered a big blow ahead of a massive summer of cricket, with the WA gloveman ruled out of Australia’s tour of New Zealand.

Inglis was set to be part of Australia’s three-game Twenty20 series in Tauranga, commencing on October 1, but suffered a calf strain while training in Perth earlier this week. He was replaced in the squad by Test keeper Alex Carey.

Australia remain hopeful the injury is not serious and will put him on a specialised program with an eye on returning for India’s white-ball tour beginning with the first of three one-day internationals on October 19.

It is the second calf injury Inglis has copped in the past nine months after suffering a low-grade strain while sub fielding during the Boxing Day Test last year, which saw him miss the rest of the BBL season.

Inglis has quickly become a key part of Australia’s T20 line-up, averaging more than 30 at a strike rate of 178.28 while batting at No.3, helping shape their all-out attack batting style in the game’s shortest format.

He also remains an outside chance of working his way into the Ashes, being the first cab off the rank in case of injury, as he was for Steve Smith in their tour of the West Indies.

The 30-year-old admits injuries have been frustrating, having also suffered a back spasm in Sri Lanka earlier this year.

“It’s an ongoing thing,” Inglis told ESPN.

“It’s sort of been around for a couple of years now. For me, it’s been really frustrating. It’s not been something that’s really kept me out of the game. It’s just something I’ve got to manage.

“I don’t really get it keeping. I think it’s just in that batting position and then light rotation. And once it’s flared up, doing everything is pretty uncomfortable.”

Australia T20I squad vs New Zealand

Mitchell Marsh (capt), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Matt Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Owen, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa