Lance Morris returns from 20-month injury layoff against England
The 28-year-old Western Australia quick is aiming to be back to red-ball cricket for his state after surgery and a side strain.
Western Australia fast bowler Lance Morris will play his first match in 20 months on Saturday, when his state takes on England at the WACA Ground, Cricket Australia said in a statement.
A crowd of more than 5,000 is expected at the Perth venue for the 50-over match, which serves as England's warm-up for their ODI and T20 series against Australia.
Morris, who turns 28 this year, last played a top-level match in the final round of the 2024-25 Sheffield Shield season.
He had pars stabilisation surgery in August last year to treat a long-term lumbar bone stress injury, a procedure similar to one that helped his state teammate Cameron Green return to international cricket.
His recovery was later extended to 15 months after he injured his side during a preseason practice game in August.
Morris said the rehabilitation tested his patience as much as his body.
"It's been the longest preseason I've ever had," Morris said.
He bowled his first competitive overs since March last year when he took two wickets for his Scarborough club in a T20 match last Sunday.
His immediate goal is to return to red-ball cricket for Western Australia and see how far he can progress, Cricket Australia said.
"It's exciting to come up against an amazing team in England," Morris said.
Mahli Beardman, who also came back from a stress fracture, has been named in Australia's ODI and T20I squads to face England after taking five wickets for Australia A in India last month.
Morris made his own debut against England as a 19-year-old in a two-day tour match ahead of the 2017-18 Ashes, where he dismissed Mark Stoneman.
He has since played three ODIs for Australia, and the first ODI of the series against England is scheduled for Nov. 13 at Perth Stadium.