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Rediff.com  » Cricket » Injury-ridden Aus shake-up squad, Eng make lone change for last three ODIs

Injury-ridden Aus shake-up squad, Eng make lone change for last three ODIs

September 07, 2015 09:54 IST
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Bairstow replaces jaded Buttler in England squad while Australia rope in Hastings, and call-up Handscomb after injury glut

England wicket-keeper Jonny Bairstow

IMAGE: England wicket-keeper Jonny Bairstow. Photograph: Lee Warren/Gallo Images/Getty Images

England have called up Jonny Bairstow to replace wicketkeeper Jos Buttler for the last three matches of the one-day international series against Australia.

Buttler made four and nought as Australia won the first two one-dayers and England's management have decided to rest him ahead of the three-match Test series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates starting next month.

"It has become clear in the last couple of days that Jos will benefit from a break from cricket ahead of the winter tours," England coach Trevor Bayliss told reporters on Sunday.

"While we initially felt Jos would have enough left in the tank, rest is key and Jos has had a heavy workload throughout 2015."

Bairstow was called into the Test team in place of Gary Ballance after England lost the second match of this year's Ashes series, making 74 to help his side win the fourth game at Trent Bridge and win back the urn.

Buttler, 24, failed to make a half-century in five Tests against Australia and has not fired with the bat since scoring a brilliant 129 in the first one-day international against New Zealand at Edgbaston in June.

England, who triumphed 3-2 in the Ashes, must win the last three one-day internationals, starting at Old Trafford on Tuesday, to deny the world champion Australians victory in the one-day series.

Gloucestershire player Peter Handscomb

IMAGE: Gloucestershire's Australian player Peter Handscomb poses for a photograph during the Gloucestershire CCC Photocall. Photograph: Harry Engels/Getty Images

The growing injury list in the Australian team has put the selectors under pressure.

Batsman-wicketkeeper Peter Handscomb and one-Test all-rounder John Hastings have been called into Australia's injury-hit squad for the remainder of the one-day international series against England.

The England-based pair reinforce a squad that has lost opening batsman David Warner, all-rounder Shane Watson and paceman Nathan Coulter-Nile to injuries in recent days.

The 24-year-old Handscomb, an opening batsman yet to be capped in international cricket, has been playing for English county side Gloucestershire.

Hastings, 29, has padded up for Durham and returns to the one-day squad four years after the last of his 11 ODIs against Sri Lanka in Colombo.

The pair's call-up follows the inclusion of Yorkshire-based opener Aaron Finch to replace Warner on Saturday.

"We looked at all options including the possibility of flying in cover from Australia but the fact all three of the players we have drafted in are already in England means they can join us at short notice, be acclimatised to conditions and be available for selection immediately, if required," Australia coach Darren Lehmann said in a media release.

"We look forward to them playing their parts in trying to ensure we finish this tour with a victory in the one-day international series against England."

Australia will bid to seal the five-match series in the third game in Manchester on Tuesday.

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Source: REUTERS
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