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Shaun Tait Added To Australia ODI Squad

Friday 25 June 2010

©REUTERS/Philip Brown (BARBADOS - Tags: SPORT CRICKET) Picture Supplied by Action Images

Fast bowler Shaun Tait has been added to Australia's One-Day International squad for the ongoing series against England as a replacement for off-spinner Nathan Hauritz.

Hauritz is to return to Australia having picked up a foot injury which has hindered him during the opening two games of the five-match series - both of which were won by England by the margin of four wickets in Southampton and Cardiff.

“Nathan Hauritz has developed pain in his left foot during the first two ODI's against England," Cricket Australia (CA) physio Alex Kountouris explained.

“While the pain was manageable in the first game, it became more severe during the second game. The pain is likely to be related to a previous foot injury and we have decided the best course of action is to withdraw Nathan from the current tour to allow sufficient time for it to recover. His return to training will be determined in the coming weeks."

Tait, who was an interested spectator at the game in Cardiff, is in England and has been playing as one of Glamorgan's overseas players during the Friends Provident t20 competition alongside compatriot Mark Cosgrove.

The slingy fast bowler has played 22 One-Day Internationals, including featuring in Australia's winning 2007 World Cup side and 15 Twenty20 Internationals.

CA National Selection Panel (NSP) chairman Andrew Hilditch added: "In view of the injury to Nathan Hauritz and some concerns about the injury to Ryan Harris, the NSP has made the decision to add Shaun Tait to the ODI squad for the remaining one-day games against England. Shaun is still very much in the thoughts of the NSP for the upcoming ICC World Cup and these games present Shaun with a great opportunity to again represent Australia in one-day cricket."

Tait will be available for the third ODI in Manchester on 27th June and the fitness of Ryan Harris, who missed the second game with a groin problem, will continue to be monitored.