(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)Wicketkeeper-batsman John Handscomb and fast bowling all-rounder John Hastings have been called into the Australia one-day cricket squad for the remainder of its series against England after injuries to Shane Watson and Nathan Coulter-Nile.
The pair join their Victoria state teammate Aaron Finch who was added to the squad on Saturday after batsman David Warner suffered a broken thumb in Australia's 64-run win in the second match at Lord's. Australia leads the five-match series 2-0. Watson who announced his retirement from Test cricket Sunday suffered a calf muscle strain in the match at Lord's while Coulter-Nile pulled a hamstring. Both players have been ruled out for the remainder of the series. The 24-year-old Hansdscomb has yet to play for Australia at senior international level but toured India with Australia A earlier this year. He has been playing county cricket for Gloucestershire during the northern summer. Hastings 29 - who played a Test against South Africa in Perth in 2012 and has played 11 one-day internationals - has recently been with Durham. Finch has been playing for Yorkshire after recovering from a foot injury. He was part of the Australia squad that won the ICC World Cup earlier this year. The trio joined the Australia squad in Manchester on Sunday. Coach Darren Lehmann said Australia was disappointed to lose players of the caliber of Warner Watson and Coulter-Nile "but we have quality replacements on hand in Aaron Finch Peter Handscomb and John Hastings." "We looked at all options including the possibility of flying in cover from Australia but the fact all three of the players we have drafted in are already in England means they can join us at short notice be acclimatized to conditions and be available for selection immediately if required" Lehmann said. Meanwhile England have called up Jonny Bairstow to replace wicket-keeper Jos Buttler for the last three matches of the one-day international series against Australia. Buttler made four and nought as Australia won the first two one-dayers and England's management have decided to rest him ahead of the three-match Test series against Pakistan in the UAE starting next month. "It has become clear in the last couple of days that Jos will benefit from a break from cricket ahead of the winter tours" England coach Trevor Bayliss told reporters on Sunday. "While we initially felt Jos would have enough left in the tank rest is key and Jos has had a heavy workload throughout 2015." Bairstow was called into the test team in place of Gary Ballance after England lost the second match of this year's Ashes series making 74 to help his side win the fourth game at Trent Bridge and win back the urn. Buttler 24 failed to make a half-century in five tests against Australia and has not fired with the bat since scoring a brilliant 129 in the first one-day international against New Zealand at Edgbaston in June. England who triumphed 3-2 in the Ashes must win the last three one-day internationals starting at Old Trafford on Tuesday to deny the world champion Australians victory in the one-day series.
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