Australia v England 2010/11: Ferguson to replace Shaun Marsh
Australia has called upon the middle-order batsman Callum Ferguson for the following two games of the on-going One-Day International series against England after Shaun Marsh became the latest player to join the injury list of Australian players.
Marsh, who had replaced key batsman Michael Hussey in the series, entered Sunday’s game with a swollen hamstring and will now have scans in Sydney to check the severity of the injury that will determine his recovery time.
The Aussies started the seven-match ODI series without regular Captain Ricky Ponting, as he was nursing his broken finger. Shortly after, Michael Hussey joined Ponting on the benches, after pulling his left hamstring in the first One-Day International against England at Melbourne. And now Marsh has become the latest to join the duo at the sidelines after straining his right hamstring.
Shaun was not part of Australia’s World Cup squad but was considered as the best replacement for Hussey in the mega event, if the latter’s injury halted him from taking the Subcontinent trip.
After Marsh’s injury, the Australian selectors picked up Ferguson to play for the side at Sydney and Perth. Ferguson, who has played 26 ODI's and 3 Twenty20 Internationals since debuting in February 2009, missed a whole year due to a severe knee injury before he was called back to the national side against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 in November last year, but couldn’t bat during the match.
Chairman of CA selectors, Andrew Hilditch praised Ferguson’s ODI record and was hopeful the right-handed batsman will avail the opportunity he has got after Marsh’s ill-timed injury.
"Callum has an excellent record in one-day internationals for Australia and is in good form this season," said Hilditch. "We are sure Callum will seize the opportunity that comes following the unfortunate hamstring injury suffered by Shaun Marsh."
The Australian call-up would cost Ferguson his Big Bash Twenty20’ grand final on Saturday, as his state, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Australia-c844, is in search of the trophy since the past 26 years. The batsman, however, said that playing for the Australian national side has always been exciting for any player and one can’t miss the opportunity.
"We are all in it to try and further ourselves as cricketers and any opportunity to be with the Australian team is one that you can't miss," said Ferguson. "And it's something that I'm extremely thrilled to be a part of," he added.
Ferguson said he would be ready to take the responsibility in the mega event, if both Hussey and Marsh fail to recover in time for the tournament.
"The Australian domestic summer keeps you well prepared at all times for any call-ups to the Australian team,” said the 26-year-old South Australian. "And I'll feel like I'm ready to go and do a job for the team whenever they see fit if I do get an opportunity,” he added.
The four-time reigning World Champions, who will be defending their title for the fourth time in a row, kick-start their World Cup campaign against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045 in Ahmedabad on February 21st, 2011.
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