15 September,2017 11:37 AM IST | New Delhi | Agencies
India opener Shikhar Dhawan will miss first three ODIs against Australia to attend to unwell wife Ayesha
India's Shikhar Dhawan walks back following his dismissal during the third ODI v Sri Lanka in Kandy last month. Pic/Getty Images
India opener Shikhar Dhawan has been released from the team for the first three ODIs against Australia to attend to his wife, who is unwell. "Team India opener Mr Shikhar Dhawan has requested to be released from the team for the first three ODIs of the Paytm Australia tour of India, 2017 to attend to his wife, who is unwell," a BCCI release stated yesterday.
No replacement for Dhawan
The senior selection committee has decided not to name any replacement for Dhawan for the first three matches. During the last series against Sri Lanka also, Dhawan had left after the one-day Internationals as his mother was unwell at that time.
Meanwhile, big-hitting Australia opener Aaron Finch yesterday aggravated his right calf injury during a practice session and is facing a race against time to be fit for the first ODI against India on September 17. Finch got injured during practice at the MA Chidambaram Stadium and pulled out of the rest of the session, cricket.com.au reported.
Head wins?
In the event of Finch being ruled out of the first game, Australia may turn to Travis Head or Hilton Cartwright, the report said. The Victorian had been rested from Australia's warm-up match on Tuesday due to the injury, which he suffered while playing for Surrey in England six weeks ago. Uncapped all-rounder Cartwright opened in Finch's absence in the warm-up game, but was dismissed for a second-ball duck in Australia's 103-run win.
Australia's stand-in coach David Saker had indicated that Head was the "preferred choice" for the No.4 slot in the line-up. Head said he would be happy to bat up the order.
