Day-Night Test: Australia add Moises Henriques to squad, Sean Abbott ruled out with injury

Update: 2020-12-14 11:12 IST

Moises Henriques

All-rounder Moises Henriques has been added to Australia's squad ahead of the first Test against India after pacer Sean Abbott was ruled out with a calf injury.

Abbott suffered a calf strain while playing in the day-night tour match at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Saturday, as reported by cricket.com.au. Henriques, who was supposed to play the SCG game last week, missed out after a scan revealed a low-grade hamstring injury. However, the 33-year-old all-rounder passed a fitness test on Monday and is set to join the Australian squad just three days before the much-anticipated day-night Test at the Adelaide Oval against India.

Even before the start of the Test series, the Australian camp has suffered a number of injuries. Earlier, Marcus Harris was added in the squad after opening batsman David Warner was ruled out of the first Test following the abductor injury he sustained during the One-Day International (ODI) series, which the hosts won by defeating India 2-1.

The New South Wales all-rounder Henriques has been called in for Will Pucovski, the 22-year-old batter who was ruled out of the first Test after he was concussed on the final day of the first tour match at Drummoyne Oval last week. Late on day three, Pucovski was hit in the helmet by a bouncer - the latest entry on a long list of head knocks the young batsman has endured.

While it is understood that Pucovski and Warner are targeting to return to the squad in time for the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), their participation still remains in doubt.

Here is the list of Australian cricketers, who have suffered an injury at some point over the past one month: Marcus Stoinis (side), Warner (adductor), Ashton Agar (calf and finger), Mitch Starc (back and ribs), Josh Hazlewood (back), Aaron Finch (glute), Henriques (hamstring), Pucovski (concussion), Cameron Green (concussion), Jackson Bird (calf), Harry Conway (concussion) and Abbott (calf).

Green was struck by a fierce straight drive by India's tailender Jasprit Bumrah on the opening day of the pink ball practice match last week. The doctor, later on, confirmed that the all-rounder showed mild symptoms of concussion. It comes as good news for the Australian camp that the 21-year-old Green is recovering well.

Australia's current Test squad has eight batters capable of batting in the top six, with Green alongside Henriques, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, Matthew Wade, Joe Burns, and Marcus Harris. While two batters are set to miss out, they'll remain with the side in case of a batsman needs to be subbed out from concussion or for showing symptoms of COVID-19.

The day-night Test, which will be India's first pink ball game overseas, will start on Thursday at the Adelaide Oval.

Tags:    

Similar News