“The West Australian will return home for scans with his availability for the three-match Test series subject to further assessment and progress,” a CA statement said.

Inglis is also part of the Test squad as a spare batter and reserve wicketkeeper. He has played five Tests as a specialist batter which has seen him used in all positions from No. 4 to No. 7. He made a century on debut against Sri Lanka in early 2025 but hasn’t passed 32 in his next six innings.

However, while Inglis has played as a batter so far in his Test career, should he not recover in time to rejoin the tour ahead of the Durban Test next month, Australia will need to consider flying in a replacement wicketkeeper. Otherwise they would be left without one should Carey suffer an injury. It is a risk they run for the second ODI at the Wanderers on Sunday but there won’t be time to get someone to South Africa that quickly.

Carey hasn’t missed a Test since making his debut in the 2021-22 Ashes, bringing up his 50th appearance against Bangladesh in Mackay last month, although Inglis did take the gloves from him in Jamaica last year when Carey suffered a concussion on the second day.

None of the Australia A players passed fifty in the four-day game with pace bowler Fergus O’Neill making their top score of the match with 47, followed by Jason Sangha’s first-innings 46. The first-class domestic season is yet to start back in Australia with the first round of Sheffield Shield overlapping with the opening Test in South Africa.

Jake Weatherald was dropped after the first Test against Bangladesh in Darwin and it is unlikely selectors would return to him so soon. He made 92 in the One-Day Cup last week.

The last time Australia called up a wicketkeeper beyond Carey or Inglis to the Test squad was when Jimmy Peirson joined the 2023 Ashes tour to cover for Inglis who flew home for the birth of his first child.