Melbourne – Injury-prone all-rounder Shane Watson has been ruled out of Australia’s entire series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates with a calf injury, the country’s cricket board said on Sunday.
Watson missed the 50-over tri-series against Zimbabwe and South Africa, having rolled an ankle when he stepped on a ball at training, but this time his troublesome calf keeps him out of the month-long tour of the UAE.
Tasmania paceman Ben Hilfenhaus will take Watson’s place in the test squad, while Kane Richardson has been named as a replacement in the limited-overs, Cricket Australia said in a statement.
Australia have already lost captain Michael Clarke for the limited-overs matches of the series due to a hamstring injury and the top batsman is still a doubt for the tests.
After a one-off Twenty20 match on October 5, Australia play Pakistan in three one-dayers over the following week before the first test starts on October 22 in Dubai. – Reuters