Australia suffered a huge blow ahead of Wednesday's second one-dayer against India as fast bowlers Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson as well as all-rounder James Hopes were on Tuesday ruled out of the match due to injuries.
Australia suffered a huge blow ahead of Wednesday's second one-dayer against India as fast bowlers Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson as well as all-rounder James Hopes were on Tuesday ruled out of the match due to injuries.
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New South Wales all-rounder Moises Henriques will join the Australian squad as a standby player and cover for Hopes who is unlikely to be fit till the third one-dayer in Delhi.
"Our medical staff have now decided that while both Brett Lee (right elbow) and Mitchell Johnson's (left ankle) injuries have responded well to treatment, they will be severe enough to rule them out of contention for tomorrow's match," National Selection Panel Chairman Andrew Hilditch said in a Cricket Australia statement.
"With James Hopes' right hamstring injury being more serious and likely 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," he added.
Henriques will reach Delhi on Wednesday and join the Australian squad when it arrives in Delhi on Thursday.
Hilditch said the injury to the players was disappointing but for Henriques it will give an opportunity to become familiar with the Australian team environment.
"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 said.
"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."
Australia lead the seven-match series 1-0 after their four-run victory in Vadodara on Sunday.
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