Overview

• The NSW quick suffered a split in the webbing of his right hand while fielding off his own bowling to a Peter Handscomb push at Junction Oval and was ruled out of the match.
• NSW replaced Abbott with fellow seamer Charlie Stobo under Cricket Australia’s trial that permits like-for-like injury substitutions up to stumps on day two, with the opposition allowed a tactical response.
• Under the trial conditions Abbott must observe a 12‑day stand‑down from domestic and national matches beginning Friday.
• Abbott has been named in Australia’s T20 squad to face India from October 29, leaving uncertainty over his immediate availability pending recovery and eligibility.
• The setback adds to pace-bowling concerns, with Pat Cummins dealing with a back stress reaction and Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson and Brendan Doggett also injured, while Scott Boland is expected to cover Cummins for the first Ashes Test on November 21.