Australian cricket team captain Michael Clarke poses with a fan upon arrival at Johannesburg Airport on Wednesday. Australia will play three Tests and as many T20 matches against hosts South Africa. The first Test starts on February 12 at SuperSport Park, Centurion.
SYDNEY: Australia replaced injured batsman Shaun Marsh with Phillip Hughes yesterday while clearing fit-again paceman Jackson Bird to join the team in South Africa for the three-test series starting on February 12.
Though named in the 15-man squad, both Marsh and Bird stayed put in Australia battling fitness issues.
“As Shaun Marsh’s calf injury has not improved as much as required over the past four days he has been withdrawn from the Test squad for the tour of South Africa,” national selector John Inverarity said in a statement. “Phillip Hughes had been placed on standby and now comes into the Test Squad as a replacement for Shaun. Phillip will head to South Africa as soon as possible.”
Marsh injured his calf during Australia’s one-day series against England and was undergoing treatment at Perth.
Bird, who injured his back in a Big Bash match last week, was cleared by the medical team after the 27-year-old paceman underwent bowling sessions at Hobart under coach Darren Lehmann’s observation.
He, along with team-mate Moises Henriques, will fly to South Africa today. After the first Test in Centurion, Port Elizabeth will host the second from February 20 while Cape Town is the venue for the third and final Test from March 1.
Veteran Hodge earns T20 recall
SYDNEY: Veteran batsman Brad Hodge was yesterday recalled to Australia’s Twenty20 squad, boosting his chances of playing in the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh in March-April.
The 39-year-old, who has been in outstanding form for the Melbourne Stars in the domestic Big Bash League, was called up to replace all-rounder Moises Henriques, who is heading to South Africa to join up with the Test team, Cricket Australia said. Hodge played six Tests and 25 one-day international for Australia between 2005 and 2008 but has been overlooked since. He will join the squad for the final two Twenty20s against England, in Melbourne today and Sydney on Sunday. Australia won the opening match in Hobart on Wednesday by 13 runs.
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