Watson ruled out of Hobart ODI

Australia will face England without Shane Watson after the allrounder experienced hamstring tightness ahead of Friday's match in Hobart.

Australian cricketer Shane Watson

Shane Watson looks set to miss the one-day match against England due to an injury precaution. (AAP)

Australia's batting line-up to face England has an experimental look after Shane Watson become the latest frontliner ruled out as a World Cup injury precaution.

Australia will attempt to clinch an ODI Tri-Series final berth in Hobart on Friday without Watson as well as David Warner (hamstring), suspended skipper George Bailey and the recuperating Michael Clarke.

New skipper Steve Smith confirmed allrounder Watson would not play after experiencing hamstring tightness while bowling in the nets at Bellerive on Thursday.

"I don't think it's anything too major, more of a precautionary measure to make sure he's right for the World Cup," Smith said.

Fresh from blasting 71 from 48 balls in the BBL at the MCG on Wednesday night, Shaun Marsh will take over Warner's spot at the top of the order, Smith said.

Marsh was called into the squad alongside fellow batsman Cameron White to replace Warner and Bailey, while former Test allrounder Moises Henriques was drafted into the squad on Thursday evening after withdrawing from Sydney Sixers' BBL clash with Sydney Thunder

Smith could be expected to promote himself from No.4 to Watson's spot at No.3, while the exact order of White, Glenn Maxwell, Brad Haddin and James Faulkner will be revealed on Friday.

Despite the multiple team changes just weeks out from the World Cup, Smith was positive.

"We'll do whatever we have to," he said.

"This is still an important series for us and one that we'd like to win, so we don't want to look too far ahead."

Chairman of selectors Rod Marsh said Henriques is still one of Australia's leading all-rounders.

"He has international experience and in Shane Watson's enforced absence it made perfect sense to draft him in for this match," he said.

Marsh said he expected Henriques, White and Shaun Marsh to be released from the Australian squad ahead of Monday's Australia Day fixture with India at the SCG.

Bailey, Mitch Marsh and Warner are all expected to be available for selection in Sydney.

Unbeaten after two Tri-Series matches, Australia can confirm a place in the final on Friday with one match still to play against India.

But England don't plan to make it easy as they take confidence from their nine-wicket trouncing of India at the Gabba on Tuesday.

"The other night we put a batting and bowling and fielding display all together for the first time for a while and it's about doing that again," batsman Ian Bell said.

"It doesn't matter what XI Australia put out, we just want to put 100 overs of cricket together to the standard we did the other night in Brisbane."

Bell admitted England's batsmen were getting in plenty of practice against left-arm pace bowlers, keenly aware of the threat posed by Mitchell Starc, who has claimed 10 wickets in his Australia's two Tri-Series games.

"Australia potentially have three left-arm seam bowlers so there's a lot of that goes in to your thinking going into the game," said Bell.

Smith doesn't think England's Steven Finn, who took 5-33 against India on Tuesday, will pose such a threat at Bellerive.

"He bowled back of the length on a Gabba wicket which generally bounces a little bit more," he said.

"I think that will be a little different to what we get out here.

"We know what to expect from their bowlers and we're ready."

Friday's match starts at 2.20pm (AEDT).


Share

4 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world