Australia call up Replacements

Australia have called up John Hastings and Peter Handscomb ahead of the third ODI against England in Manchester on Tuesday at Old Trafford.

The Aussies have been hit with injuries on the back end of the tour with David Warner (Broken Thumb), Shane Watson (Calf) and now Nathan Coulter-Nile (Hamstring) all departing the tour and both Hastings and Handscomb have been plucked out of county cricket to join the squad ahead of the crucial third ODI.

Hastings last played for Australia in 2012 but Handscomb is uncapped and will provide cover in the squad as well as being a back up wicketkeeper to Matthew Wade. For Handscomb, he will now likely lose his status as a domestic player in county cricket after playing for Gloucerstershire on a UK passport.

Hastings has been in fine form for Durham this season and is rewarded with his first call up in over 3 years and is likely to go straight into the side for the match with England and will hope to secure an unassailable 3-0 victory for his county in the ODI series.

Meanwhile Shane Watson has announced his retirement from Test Cricket after his injury and will now look to prolong his international career for the Aussie’s by appearing in only ODI and T20 games.