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10-Jul-2012 02:53:00 GMT
England v Australia, NatWest Series, Old Trafford

Australia Play for Pride Without Lee, Watson

Manchester: Australia have a huge task ahead of picking themselves up for the dead rubber to salvage some pride.

Australia's Brett Lee and Shane Watson both had their tour of England cut short by calf problems on Monday as they were ruled out of Tuesday's fifth one-day international at Old Trafford.

The duo, who suffered their injuries while bowling during a crushing eight-wicket defeat at Chester-le-Street on Saturday that gave England a series-clinching 3-0 lead in the five-match contest, are now due to fly home to Australia.

Australia team doctor John Orchard said in a statement: "Shane Watson and Brett Lee have calf strains -- Shane to the left and Brett to the right calf -- sustained during the fourth ODI against England at Durham.

At this stage, they are anticipated to be available for consideration for selection for the ICC World Twenty20 (in Sri Lanka starting in September), with scan results and response to treatment to determine whether they will be available for consideration for selection for the coming series against Pakistan in the UAE ( United Arab Emirates)."

Fast bowler Lee and seam-bowling all-rounder Watson joined teenage paceman Pat Cummins (side strain) in returning home early from the tour.

Meanwhile, left-arm quick Mitchell Johnson did not play in Chester-le-Street because of soreness in his right foot.

Lee and Watson's injuries saw Australia bring another left-arm quick in Mitchell Starc, who had been playing for English county Yorkshire, into their squad as cover on Sunday.

Chris Woakes was once described by Warwickshire's director of cricket and England selector, Ashley Giles, as the player he would most like to clone. The original uncloned version is still awaiting a chance in the series. He has the ability to balance up the side at No. 8 and deserves a home debut.

Teams from

England:
Alastair Cook (captain), James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Jade Dernbach, Steven Finn, Craig Kieswetter (wk), Eoin Morgan, Samit Patel, Graeme Swann, Jonathan Trott, Jason Roy, Chris Woakes, James Tredwell

Australia: George Bailey, Michael Clarke (captain), Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty, Peter Forrest, Ben Hilfenhaus, David Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Clint McKay, James Pattinson, Steven Smith, Matthew Wade (wk), David Warner, Mitchell Starc

Stats and trivia

  • England are looking for their 10th successive ODI win, but Graham Gooch, now England's batting coach, was captain when they won 11 in a row, a run which ended with defeat in the 1992 World Cup final although that included a no-result against Pakistan in the group stage.
  • Stuart Broad needs two wickets to reach 150 in ODIs while Alastair Cook needs 20 runs to reach 2000.
  • Australia have never lost four matches in a one-day series against England

Match facts
Tuesday, July 10 2012 (day/night)
Start time 1400 local (1300 GMT)


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