- Kane Richardson has been ruled out for the Pakistan series due to a hamstring injury
- Ben Dwarshuis has been named as his replacement
- Aaron Finch doesn’t think the squad is under-strengthened despite the unavailability of key players
Australia’s pacer Kane Richardson has been ruled out of the white ball series against Pakistan that starts at the end of this month. Richardson’s ouster came after he aggravated a hamstring injury during a practice session in Melbourne. Left-arm bowler Ben Dwarshuis of New South Wales has been called in as his replacement.
Huge congratulations, Ben! ?
He comes into the squad for Kane Richardson, who has been ruled out with with an aggravated hamstring #PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/V8a22QGU7m
— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) March 22, 2022
The 31-year-old is one of the most experienced and polished right-arm fast-medium bowlers who has aggregated 76 white-ball wickets in 55 matches. His injury comes as a major blow to the Australian squad who are already half strengthened due to the absence of Stac, Hazlewood, Cummins and Warner in the short format series. Even though the injury is minor but the Australian board thinks it’s best that he stays back.
“Although the injury is considered minor it was decided the long trip to Pakistan along with four games in eight days and short turnarounds it was in Richardson’s best interests to remain home,”
The Sydney Sixers player Dwarshuis is yet to get his debut cap. He was part of the Australian squad for a tri-series in 2017-2018 but was never picked in the playing XI. He will now lead the pace attack for his country on Pakistan soil.
Despite a lack of depth in the squad, captain Aaron Finch is confident that the squad has everything needed to win the series.
“Having a lot of faith in their own ability is really important. When you have got guys like Abbott, he’s been around for a long time [and] Behrendorff. They’ve played a lot of state cricket, so I think it’ll be fine.”
The Australia squad for the white-ball series is scheduled to land in Pakistan on 24th March in Lahore. The ODI and T20I series which were originally scheduled in Rawalpindi Stadium was shifted to Lahore after chances of political turmoil consolidated in Islamabad during the match days. The first ODI will be played on 29th March in Gaddafi Stadium Lahore.
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