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Australia add Moises Henriques to Test squad: The Australian all-rounder joins the squad as injury cover

sridhar-bhamidi
14 Dec 2020
sridhar-bhamidi
Sridhar Bhamidi 14 Dec 2020
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  • Moises Henriques is cleared fit to join the Australia Test squad
  • He comes as injury cover for Will Pucovski
  • All-rounder Sean Abbott will stay in Sydney nursing a calf strain
Moises Henriques
Moises Henriques is set to join the Australia squad for the first Test (Getty Images)

Australia have added all-rounder Moises Henriques to their Test squad for the first Vodafone Test against India. This comes in the wake of increasing injuries, making the home camp jittery.

The latest to join the treatment table is fast bowler Sean Abbott. He picked up a calf-strain in the practice match against India featuring for Australia ‘A’ at the SCG on Saturday. Abbott didn’t turn up in the second innings and has not travelled with the remaining Australia squad members from Sydney.

Interestingly, Henriques was taken out of that practice match after a scan last Wednesday revealed a low-grade hamstring strain. It was expected that Henriques will miss action for a few weeks.

However, the 33-year-old passed a fitness test on Monday morning and has been deemed good enough to join the squad. Henriques played the last of his four Tests in 2016 and his arrival completes a full circle of changes for the injury-hit Australians.

It all started with David Warner suffering an adductor strain in the second Dettol ODI at the SCG last month. The swashbuckling opener subsequently missed the T20Is and has been ruled out of the first Test. There are doubts over his availability for the second Test, but Australia have pressing needs for the first Test to be sorted.

Marcus Harris also joins the squad together with Henriques and he comes in as Warner’s replacement. It was widely anticipated that young opener Will Pucovski will make his debut at Adelaide. He was hit on the helmet by a bouncer in the practice match against India and was subsequently ruled out. This is not new for the 22-year-old who has endured quite a few hits on the head already.

Both Warner and Pucovski are targeting a return in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, although that remains a tough proposition at the moment. Another player to withdraw due to injury concerns was Cameron Green. The young all-rounder was hit on the head while bowling, as a fierce straight drive from Jasprit Bumrah – of all batsmen – struck a big blow.

Although latest reports suggest that the batsman is recuperating well, he is ‘touch and go’ to be fit for the first Test. The squad now has eight batsmen – Green, Henriques, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, Matthew Wade, Joe Burns and Harris.

Two of the above eight are set to miss out on selection, but will stay with the squad as cover in case of concussion or COVID-19 substitute.