Now James Hopes to fly back home
By IANSSunday, November 1, 2009
MOHALI - There seems to be no end to Australia’s injury worries. After fast bowler Brett Lee and wicket-keeper Tim Paine, all-rounder James Hopes is the third player who will fly back home as he was ruled out of the remaining four of the seven-match series.
Hopes suffered a hamstring injury in the first One-Day International (ODI) at Vadodara and missed the Nagpur and Delhi ODIs.
Cricket Australia (CA) Sunday decided to send Victorian fast bowler Clinton McKay as a replacement for Lee (elbow) while New South Wales all-rounder Moises Henriques, who was drafted in the team after three bowlers were injured in Vododara, will remain with the squad for the remainder of the series.
CA physio therapist Kevin Sims said in a statement that Hopes had done everything he can to try and make himself available for the remaining games.
“However, due to the compressed nature of this tour and his speed of recovery so far we feel now we have insufficient time to have James fully fit to take part in the remaining games of this series. Therefore, a decision has been made that James will return to Australia where he will continue his rehabilitation from this hamstring injury,” he said.
National selection panel chairman Andrew Hilditch said: “Clinton is a young promising bowler who performed well at interstate level last season and has been in good form for Victoria in the Champions League in India.”
“Indian conditions will suit him and we believe he is another young player who will benefit from the experience of being in the Australian team set-up during this tour. We feel he has the ability to perform well at the international level.”
McKay will join the Australian team when it arrives in Hyderabad for the fifth ODI of the series.
