Vogues to tour India as Ponting's cover up

Sydney, Sep 24 (UNI) Cricket Australia today called up Adam Vogues as a possible replacement for their injured captain Ricky Pointing in the upcoming India tour later this month.

The 33-year-old right-hander suffered a hamstring injury while batting in their Twenty20 World Cup super eight game against Pakistan in Johannesburg after which he did not take the field during Pakistan innings. Interestingly, the Aussies thereafter went on to lost the match.

Injury seems to plaguing the Aussies for the moment and the latest to join the list is left-handed batsman Michael Hussey, who has been ruled out of the upcoming tour after injuring his hamstring in the Twenty20 World Cup semi-final against India.

Brad Haddin, who joined the team as a replacement for Ponting, has now been named as a full member of the squad.

Confirming the changes, Chairman of the National Selection Panel, Andrew Hilditch said, ''Following the hamstring injury to Ricky Ponting during the ICC Twenty20 World Championship, Brad Haddin was added to the squad for the tour of India as cover while Ponting recovered fitness.

''An unfortunate hamstring injury to Mike Hussey, also during the ICC Twenty20 World Championship, has ruled him out of the tour altogether and as such Brad Haddin has been permanently added to the touring party for the tour of India.

''And now Adam Vogues, who has recently captained Australia 'A' side in Pakistan, has been added to the touring squad as cover for Ponting. Once Ricky (Ponting) has recovered full fitness, Adam will return to Australia,'' Hilditch said.

Australia is scheduled to depart South Africa for India on September 25 to compete in the seven match ODI series -- the first of which is scheduled for September 29 at Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore -- and one Twenty20 game.

UNI