Oz all-rounder Henriques also ruled out of fifth ODI

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HYDERABAD - After fast bowler Peter Siddle, yet another of Australia’s bowlers, Moises Henriques, has been sidelined with a hamstring injury and he will miss Thursday’s fifth ODI against India in Hyderabad.

All-rounder Henriques hurt his right hamstring in the field during Monday’s victory in Mohali and could be flown home with only three games remaining in the series.

The news of his injury came only a day after Siddle was sent home due to a stiffness in his left side.

The squad has already lost Brett Lee (elbow), James Hopes (hamstring) and Tim Paine (finger), and was without first-choice players Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, Nathan Bracken and Callum Ferguson when the series began.

Henriques himself was a replacement player who joined the group mid-tour when Hopes was ruled out.

His unavailability for Thursday’s match should mean an ODI debut for either the spinner Jon Holland or the fast bowler Clint McKay, both from Victoria, with Ben Hilfenhaus set to return to the starting line-up.

Cricket Australia has not yet announced if a replacement for Siddle would be sent to India but the Henriques injury may force them to do so.

They are likely to begin the Hyderabad match with only 13 fit men to choose from and the captain Ricky Ponting said he felt for the injured players.

“It’s disappointing to see these guys go down, because you know how much they want to play and be a part of the series and do the best they can to win games and win series,” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Ponting, as saying.

At least the long-term news for some of the key members of Australia’s side is good. The Cricket Australia physio Alex Kountouris said Lee and Clarke were not far away from playing cricket again, while Paine should be able to start training by the end of the month. (ANI)