Opening batsman Phil Jaques was on Monday added to the injury-hit Australian one-day squad for its limited-overs series in South Africa, Cricket Australia (CA) said.
The New South Wales batsman was considered unlucky to miss out in the original selection after a prolific-scoring Australian summer.
Jaques hit four centuries in the domestic one-day competition and made 94 on debut last month in the tri-series match against South Africa.
Jaques will fly to South Africa to bolster the Australian touring party following injuries to skipper Ricky Ponting and all-rounder Andrew Symonds.
”As we’re two batsmen down for the time being, due to the injuries to Ricky Ponting and Andrew Symonds, the selectors feel it is essential to fly Phil Jaques in as cover,” chairperson of selectors Trevor Hohns said in a CA statement.
”There’s no doubt Phil’s form has been great this summer and we’ve every confidence in him if his services are called upon.”
Ponting suffered an abdominal strain while batting in the nets on Saturday and Adam Gilchrist took over as captain in Sunday’s opening ODI loss to South Africa in Centurion.
Hohns said that once Ponting has regained his fitness the selectors will review the numbers in the squad with a view to the remaining matches in the five-game series. – Sapa-AFP