Australia's Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson to miss the match
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Australia's Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson have been ruled out of the second ODI against India on Wednesday.
Their absence comes as a blow to the tourists who are already without all-rounder James Hopes
who has been ruled out for up to two matches after suffering a hamstring strain in Australia's four-win win in Vadodara on Sunday.
Australia had hoped to have Lee (elbow) and Johnson (ankle) available for the match in Nagpur, although they are expected to return for the third match of the series in Delhi on Saturday.
The news is not as good for Hopes who is set to be sidelined until later in the seven-match series and Australia's selectors have responded by requesting promising all-rounder Moises Henriques fly to India to join the squad as back-up.
"Our medical staff have now decided that while both Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson's injuries have responded well to treatment, they will be severe enough to rule them out of contention for Wednesday's match in Nagpur," Australia's national selection panel chairman Andrew Hilditch said.
"With James Hopes' right hamstring injury being more serious and likely to keep him out for at least the next two matches it is thought adding a standby player to the squad is a necessity.
"Given the most significant injury appears to be Hopes' hamstring we have taken this opportunity to add Moises Henriques to the squad until the completion of game four in Mohali where we will again assess the situation before it is decided if he remains with the squad."
Henriques is yet to play an ODI for his country, with his only appearance in Australian colours arriving in a Twenty20 against New Zealand earlier this year.
The Portugal-born 22-year-old impressed during New South Wales' successful Champions League Twenty20 campaign in India earlier this month, when he was the tournament's second-leading wicket taker.
"While the injury situation is disappointing it does provide an opportunity for Moises to join the Australian squad and become familiar in this environment," Hilditch added.
"His form for Australia A in Pakistan and for New South Wales during the recent Champions League in India has been very good and we view him as an exciting young all-rounder who will be looking to make the most of this opportunity in India."
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