Australia on Sunday called up veteran batsman Michael Hussey to replace injured fast bowler Doug Bollinger in their World Cup squad.
Published: Mar 06, 2011, 07:03 PM (IST)
Edited: Mar 06, 2011, 07:03 PM (IST)
Michael Hussey
Sydney: Mar 6, 2011
Australia on Sunday called up veteran batsman Michael Hussey to replace injured fast bowler Doug Bollinger in their World Cup squad. The 35-year-old Hussey was in the original 15-man squad but did not make the trip to the sub-continent because of a hamstring injury despite his insistence he would be fit by the later stages of the six-week tournament.
“Michael has successfully recovered from major hamstring surgery and is seen as someone who is capable of assisting Australia as we strive to win this tournament,” said chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch.
“His skill, experience, ability against spin and the fact that he provides a left-hand option in the middle order is seen as critical in our World Cup defence now that he has successfully recovered from injury.”
Hussey has played 151 ODIs, making 4,469 runs with a highest score of 109 not out and an average of over 51. He will be available to play in Australia’s fourth Group A game against Kenya in Bangalore on Saturday after successfully proving his fitness in a Sheffield Shield match with Western Australia.
Cricket Australia also said that seamer Dirk Nannes would fly to India to act as bowling cover. “Dirk will train with the Australian World Cup squad and be fit, available and acclimatised in the event of an injury to a fast bowler, in particular a new-ball fast bowler, in the final stages of this tournament,” Hilditch said.
Left-armer Nannes, 34, has played only one ODI. Australia, bidding for a fourth successive World Cup title, won their first two matches against Zimbabwe and New Zealand before sharing the points with Sri Lanka in Saturday’s washed-out match in Colombo.
© AFP
