Sam Whiteman’s brazen innings that carried Perth Scorchers to the Big Bash League title last weekend has ended his chances of representing Australia this month.

And the courageous wicketkeeper is unlikely to play again this summer after scans revealed the extent of the damage his right index finger sustained in the BBL final.

As Mitchell Johnson declared he would be unavailable for the Australian Twenty20 team this month, his Scorchers teammate was also ruled out of the series against Sri Lanka.

Whiteman will have his right index finger assessed by a surgeon today, but it is unlikely he will be fit to play for at least three months.

Whiteman hurt the finger when he collected a delivery from Johnson early in Sydney Sixers’ innings at the WACA Ground last Saturday.

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He ignored the pain to launch a spectacular 21-ball onslaught that included five sixes in a brilliant 41 that took the game away from the Sixers. A similar injury to the same finger prevented Whiteman playing in last year’s BBL and limited his effectiveness for the WA team.

Play Video Cricket great, Mike Hussey says he would jump at the chance of being part of a WA franchise. The West Australian Video Cricket great, Mike Hussey says he would jump at the chance of being part of a WA franchise.

It is a blow for the 24-year-old, who would have been picked as Australia’s wicketkeeper for the three-match series against Sri Lanka.

Whiteman remains eager to play for Australia, but is no longer so absorbed by the idea that his game has suffered.

He told The West Australian after the Scorchers’ win that he had lost focus after a powerful 2014-15 season that included making 174 for Australia A and being widely touted as a Test keeper in waiting.

“I took my eye off the ball in the year after I started getting talked about,” he said.

“I would love to play for Australia, but to do that I have to play well here.

“It helps when you win titles and perform in big games.

“I am flying under the radar and really enjoying playing for WA and the Scorchers.”

Johnson told interim Aust-ralian coach Justin Langer that he would not end his retirement from international cricket.

Camera Icon Sam Whiteman walks out to open the batting in the Big Bash League final against the Sydney Sixers last Saturday. Credit: Getty Images

The former Test tearaway had a profound impact for the Scorchers this summer, but is content to limit his future cricket to the global T20 leagues.

The Australian T20 squad will be named today but Cricket Australia yesterday announced that Aaron Finch, currently in New Zealand with the national one-day side, would be captain.

The loss of Whiteman means the Warriors are now without seven first-choice players, with Shaun Marsh, Mitch Marsh and Ashton Agar on international duties, and pacemen Nathan Coulter-Nile, Jason Behrendorff and Joel Paris returning from serious injuries.