McDonald, Cockley to join depleted Aussies
Posted on Nov 04, 2009 at 12:38 | Updated Nov 04, 2009 at 19:57
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Hyderabad: Nursing a hamstring injury, Moises Henriques on Wednesday became the latest Australian to return home midway through the India tour and the beleaguered visitors inducted Victorian all-rounder Andrew McDonald and New South Wales fast bowler Burt Cockley to prop up the depleted side.
Cricket Australia said in a press release that Henriques would return home after suffering a hamstring injury during the fourth ODI in Mohali.
In such a situation, the CA National Selection Panel (NSP) announced that McDonald and Cockley would join the squad for the sixth ODI in Guwahati as replacement players for Henriques and Peter Siddle, who returned home early this morning with stiffness in his left side.
"Moises complained of some discomfort after the fourth ODI in Mohali. He had an MRI scan when we arrived in Hyderabad which showed signs of injury to the right hamstring," Australian physiotherapist Kevin Sims said.
"The medical staff believe the injury will not recover sufficiently for him to participate in the last week of the tour and therefore we have decided he will return to Australia where he will continue his treatment," Sims added.
National Selection Panel Chairman Andrew Hilditch said McDonald's form in the Champions League Twenty20 clinched it for him while Cockley was rewarded for his performance in the Ford Ranger Cup.
"Andrew played very well for Victoria in the recent Champions League in India, was in very good form in the first Sheffield Shield game scoring a hundred and bowling impressively on a batsman friendly Adelaide wicket and backing that up with a dominant display in tonight's Ford Ranger Cup match," Hilditch said.
"We are sure that Andrew will grab his opportunity and perform well in the Australian one-day set up," he said.
"Burt is someone who the NSP has identified in the last 12 months as someone who could have an impact at international level. He performed well in the recent Ford Ranger Cup game against Western Australia and we think he will be well suited to Indian conditions. This is a great opportunity for a young Australian fast bowler to have an impact at the international level," added Hilditch.
Australia landed in India without key players like Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin and a spate of injuries saw Brett Lee, James Hopes, Tim Paine, Siddle and now Henriques return home.
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