From: AAP, January 14, 2013
NSW pair Moises Henriques and Dave Warner join skipper Michael Clarke and Matthew Wade in the Australian squad Source: AFP
AUSTRALIA’S selectors have recalled four players including NSW allrounder Moises Henriques to their squad fof the next two one-day internationals against Sri Lanka.
Skipper Michael Clarke, opener David Warner and wicketkeeper Matthew Wade also return to the squad after being rested from the opening two matches.
Game three is on Friday in Brisbane.
Australia chairman of selectors John Inverarity says 25-year-old Henriques, who has played two previous ODI matches, provides an extra seam-bowling option to the side.
Top-order batsmen Usman Khawaja and Aaron Finch and middle-order batsman Steve Smith have been dropped along with seam bowler Ben Cutting and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, who was a back-up for Wade and has now suffered a hamstring injury.
Pace bowler Kane Richardson, who was a late inclusion in Sunday’s team, has also been dropped from the squad.
“Moises is a young man who has shown promise for some years,” Inverarity said.
The five-match series has been levelled at one-all after Sri Lanka’s win in Adelaide on last night.
Inverarity said he hoped Mitchell Johnson (side) and fellow left-armer Mitchell Starc (calf), who both didn’t play in Adelaide, would be fit for Friday’s third game.
“The medical staff said that it is very likely they’ll be fit. We’ll make a full assessment on Wednesday and, if there’s any doubt, we’ll bring other players into the squad,” he said.
Amid ongoing criticism from ex-players including Brett Lee of the selectors’ rotation policy, Inverarity strongly defended his selection panel.
“The three different formats and the amount of cricket and the amount of travel is very different from the past,” Inverarity said.
“The other key factor that’s not often mentioned is the lack of proper conditioning periods. It’s very difficult to find an extended timeslot when they can undergo appropriate conditioning.”
The exclusion of Finch means he’s available to captain Melbourne Renegades in tomorrow’s BBL semi-final against Brisbane Heat at Etihad Stadium.
Australia squad: Michael Clarke (c), George Bailey, Xavier Doherty, Moises Henriques, Phil Hughes, David Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Clint McKay, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner.
AAP