Hughes replaces Clarke for Pakistan ODIs

Injury could rule out Australia captain from Test series as well

SYDNEY: Top order batsman Phil Hughes has replaced Michael Clarke in the Australia squad for next month's ODI series against Pakistan after the Australian captain was ruled out by a hamstring injury.

Hughes, who was overlooked for the original ODI squad despite scoring two half centuries against South Africa in the recent triangular one-day series in Zimbabwe, had been included in the Test squad to play Pakistan in the UAE.

The 25-year-old was already scheduled to travel to the UAE earlier than his Test teammates to spend time working on his batting against spin with the team's coaching consultant, Sri Lanka great Muttiah Muralitharan.

The lefthander boasts a batting average of 37.31 runs in his 24 ODIs and will now have his chance to earn a place in the squad for next year's World Cup, which Australia are co-hosting with New Zealand

Hughes, who has scored well for Australia A and South Australia, said it had been tough being in and out of the national side.

"I understand that when I was in the team, I wasn't consistent enough. Going forward is about consistency and looking to score as many runs as possible,” said Hughes.

"That is something that I have been working on and I'm probably doing it better over the last 12 months than the previous years."

The three-game one-day series against Pakistan, the last for Australia before it hosts the World Cup next year, starts on October 7 with the first of two Tests not until October 22.

Australian coach Darren Lehmann said on Tuesday that he hoped Clarke, who has a history of back and hamstring trouble, would be fit to play in the first Test. If not, then wicketkeeper Brad Haddin will be Test captain.

"The thing is we want our best player playing. He's [Clarke] been a fantastic player for us for over 100 Test matches now and we need our Number 4 playing and making runs," said Lehmann.

"We need him back and he knows that. All we can do is make sure that when he comes back, he's fit and ready to go.”