Melbourne:Opener D'Arcy Short has been added to Australia's ODI squad for their tour of India next month as a replacement for paceman Sean Abbott, who has been ruled out due to a side strain.
Abbott, who suffered the injury in the ongoing Big Bash League, will be out of action for up to four weeks. With Australia's squad already comprising Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Kane Richardson, the selectors have decided to bolster their batting options by bringing in Short.
Short, who can also bowl part-time left-arm wrist-spin, has impressed in the BBL this season, scoring 120 runs in his last three innings, including two fifties. Short has made 24 international appearances so far, scoring four half-centuries in all, but his last ODI appearance came over a year ago, in November 2018. He has played four games in the format, accumulating 83 runs at 27.66, an ICC report said.
"It is extremely unfortunate for Sean, who is very much a part of our white-ball squad plans leading into the ICC T20 World Cup and the World Cup," said Trevor Hohns, the Australia national selector.
"D'Arcy offers the squad another spinning all-rounder option along with Ashton Agar, which along with the four world-class fast bowlers and Adam Zampa. It balances the squad out nicely. His proven record and ability to bat anywhere in the order will also be a great asset to the squad," he said.Australia will play three ODIs in India from January 14 to 19, the first of which will be at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Australia squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey (vc), Pat Cummins (vc), Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Marnus Labuschagne, Kane Richardson, D'Arcy Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Ashton Turner, David Warner, Adam Zampa.(UNI)
