Bollinger and Hussey head home from India
Australia’s hopes of finishing their tour of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 with a win have taken a further blow, with Doug Bollinger and Michael Hussey to return home before Sunday’s third ODI of the current series.
Already fielding a depleted squad for the limited overs series – with skipper Ricky Ponting, fast bowler Mitchell Johnson and all-rounder Shane http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326 rested – Australia face the prospect of finishing their Indian tour winless, having gone 2-0 down in the Test series, and suffering a five-wicket loss in the second ODI yesterday (the first having been abandoned due to rain).
Paceman Bollinger has only been a part of one of those matches, Australia’s one-wicket loss in the Mohali Test, having been ruled out of the second Test with an abdominal strain.
“Doug reported some minor discomfort to his abdomen during his rehabilitation from the previous injury,” Cricket Australia physiotherapist Kevin Sims said in a statement on the Cricket Australia website.
“We do not think the new issue is serious however it will prevent him from achieving the workloads necessary for him to be available for selection in the third one-day match in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Goa-c786.
“Therefore we have decided it is in his best interests to return to Australia for further assessment and to outline further rehabilitation. Doug’s return-to-cricket date will be finalised following this assessment.”
With Australia’s bid to reclaim the Ashes from England due to begin at the end of November, the Aussies – who in recent times have seen their pace stocks hit by injury – can ill-afford an injury cloud hanging over another of their strike bowlers, and selectors and Australian fans alike will no doubt be hoping Bollinger’s abdominal problems are resolved ahead of the first Test in Brisbane, which begins on November 25th.
Hussey’s return to Australia, however, is perhaps more to do with Hussey’s middling Test form of late, as he heads back to join domestic side http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Australia-c844.
While Hussey’s 69 from 78 balls in a steadying 144-run partnership with Michael http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 in the Sydney Test this January.
No doubt selectors will be hoping the man dubbed Mr Cricket can turn in a strong performance for the Warriors in the four-day format ahead of the Ashes.
The Ashes may be the prize Australia really wants in the coming months, but they would also surely prefer to head into that series on a winning note. That, it would appear, is a task that has just become a whole lot more difficult.
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