Triangular series: Hamstrung Watson to miss England ODI

Aussie all-rounder replaced by Henriques for today’s match.

HOBART: All-rounder Shane Watson joins a long list of absentees from Australia’s top batting line-up to face England in the tri-series ODI at Hobart today.

Explosive opener David Warner is officially being rested for the one-day game, although he has also been told by Cricket Australia to ‘stop looking for trouble’ after his latest sledge saw him demand that India’s Rohit Sharma ‘speak English’. Michael Clarke is trying to regain fitness after hamstring surgery and stand-in skipper George Bailey has been suspended for a slow over rate against India in Melbourne on Sunday.

New skipper Steve Smith said Watson felt hamstring tightness while bowling in the nets in Hobart yesterday. “I don’t think it’s anything too major, more of a precautionary measure to make sure he’s right for the World Cup,” said Smith.

Moises Henriques, 27, will take over from Warner. Shaun Marsh and Cameron White, who replaces Bailey in the middle order, have been drafted into the squad for today’s match.

The Tri-series final will be played at the WACA in Perth on February 1. 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23^rd, 2015.

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