Hopes Returning To Australia, McKay Called Up

Hopes Returning To Australia, McKay Called Up

James Hopes' tour of India is over.

©REUTERS/Rogan Ward (SOUTH AFRICA SPORT CRICKET) Picture Supplied by Action Images

Australian all-rounder James Hopes is to return home as he is not going to recover from his hamstring strain in time to play any further part in the seven-match One-Day International series in India.

Hopes picked up the injury in the opening match and it was envisaged that resting him from the next two would be enough to see him available for the fourth game in Mohali, but this has not proved to be the case.

Moises Henriques, who was flown out to cover for Hopes, will remain with the squad for the rest of the series, which Australia trail 2-1.

Hopes becomes the second player this week to return to Australia after fast bowler Brett Lee, who picked up an elbow injury in the same match and Cricket Australia confirmed that Victorian Clinton McKay would be flying to India to replace Lee.

"James has done everything he can with medical staff to try and make himself available for the remaining games of the tour of India," CA physio Kevin Sims said.

"However due to the compressed nature of this tour and his speed of recovery so far we feel now we have insufficient time to have James fully fit to take part in the remaining games of this series.

"Therefore a decision has been made that James will return to Australia where he will continue his rehabilitation from this hamstring injury."

National Selection Panel Chairman Andrew Hilditch added:

"With the injuries to Brett Lee and James Hopes and both of these players returning to Australia, the National Selection Panel has taken the opportunity to add another bowler to the squad in Clinton McKay.
 
"Clinton is a young promising bowler who performed well at interstate level last season and has recent very good form for Victoria in the Champions League in India.

"He will be very well suited to Indian conditions and we believe he is another young player who benefit from the experience of being in the Australian team set-up during this tour. We also feel he has the ability to perform well at the international level.

"With Moises having played in the last ODI game and James Hopes going home, Moises will now remain with the squad in India for the duration of the series."

The fourth match in Mohali is on 2nd November and India are waiting on the fitness of Virender Sehwag, who was hit on the foot by Peter Siddle in the third match in Delhi, and Gautam Gambhir, who was hit on the head while fielding. Dinesh Karthik has been called up to the Indian squad as cover.

© Cricket World 2009