England in Australia: Graeme Swann ruled out of series due to injury
Graeme Swann, the premier spin bowler for England, has been ruled out of the remaining One Day Internationals against Australia after hurting his left knee. He will be out of action for two weeks.
Swann picked up the injury during the first Twenty20 International game in Melbourne, but continued playing. However, he was forced to leave the field during the first ODI at the Adelaide Oval.
Andy Flower, the England team director said, “He’s got a slightly strangely formed knee cap on his left knee. He got hit and it is badly bruised and quite painful so he won't be playing in the next game and might have to rest for 10 days to two weeks.”
Nevertheless, the England’s off-spin bowler performed well in the first match, as he bagged decent figures of 1 for 42 in 10 incisive overs. But his team was outplayed by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746, losing the match by a significant margin of 6 wickets.
For the home side, England set a massive 295-run target to win the match. It was a brilliant effort from the visitors, considering the bowling attack they had in the first game. Against all the odds, the hosts trounced the touring side in an emphatic manner,
as Shane Watson played a breathtaking knock, scoring an unbeaten 161-run innings off just 150 deliveries.
Flower also praised http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326 and said, “The standout performance was Watson, who played an incredible innings. I thought we had periods of some very good cricket and then the odd occasion where we let slip the advantage and the momentum we had gained in the
game. That's both with bat and ball.”
In the absence of Swann, James Tredwell will have a chance to play in the second ODI in Hobart. Tredwell, who is an off-spinner for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Kent-c802, has already played two ODI games for England.
Flower suggested, “That does give Tredwell the opportunity depending on whether we want to pick two spinners or not.”
Swann’s absence will be big blow for the touring team, as they are already missing two of their premier fast bowlers, Stuart Broad and James Anderson. However, both of the pacers will be back in the team for the fourth ODI.
Currently, the home side is leading the series by the virtue of their smashing win over England, and they will be taking a lot of momentum into the second game which will be played on 19 January, 2011 at the Bellerive Oval, Hobart.
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