Marcus North has answered a S.O.S call from Australian Cricket Selectors, whilst playing for Hampshire in English County Cricket, after scans today revealled a recurrence of Shaun Marsh’s left hamstring injury in which has ruled the Western Australian batsmen out of the remainder of the One Day Series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.

The One Day Series between the two countries, which has been four years in the making, got of to a horror start for the struggling Australian team, not only did they lose the first of five games for the series by four wickets after being completly out played by the Pakistani team, exciting opener Shaun Marsh re-injured his left hamstring and as a result has been ruled out for the remainder of the tour.

Cricket Australia today confirmed opening batsman Shaun Marsh will return to Australia after suffering a left hamstring injury during Australia’s first one-day international against Pakistan in Dubai last night. Marsh’s Western Australian captain Marcus North, currently representing Hampshire in English County Cricket, will join the Australian squad in Dubai tomorrow as a replacement player.

 Australian team doctor Trefor James said:

 ”Shaun has undergone scans this morning in Dubai which have shown a recurrence of the left hamstring injury he suffered during the Australian summer.

 ”The injury means Shaun is unavailable for selection in any of the remaining games in the United Arab Emirates and therefore a decision has been made to send him home immediately in order to begin his recovery.

 ”Shaun’s recovery process will be monitored over the next two weeks before any decision can be made on his availability for the upcoming ICC Twenty20 World Championship in the United Kingdom”

 Cricket Australia National Selection Panel Chairman Andrew Hilditch said:
“This is very disappointing for Shaun particularly given how hard he was worked in his recovery from the previous injury. It is however a great opportunity for Marcus North to demonstrate his talents in the one-day arena with some important series to be played in the near future.

“While Marcus has been chosen primarily as a top-order batsman, his off-spin bowling will come in particularly handy in the conditions the team will face both in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

The Australians were beaten into submission over night in the first one day international, with Sahid Afridi taking six for 38 as the Australians were bowled out for 168. In reply a patient Pakistan team took 44.2 Overs to notch the winning runs with 4 wickets in hand.

This article was written by Brendon Meynell from Sports-Force.net.au

http://www.sports-force.net.au/cricket/2009/04/23/north-answers-call/