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Fitness doubts for Australia ahead of second ODI against England

Both teams have suffered from sickness bugs in recent days

Wednesday 17 January 2018 11:13 GMT
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Hazlewood was rested from the series opener in Melbourne but has been laid low with a virus
Hazlewood was rested from the series opener in Melbourne but has been laid low with a virus

Australia could be without Josh Hazlewood for Friday's one-day international against England, with wicketkeeper Tim Paine also a minor doubt.

Both teams have suffered from sickness bugs in recent days, Joe Root hospitalised on the final morning of the Ashes due to severe dehydration and the likes of James Vince and David Warner also struggling.

Paine is the latest player to experience a bout of gastroenteritis, though it is expected he will be fit to take the gloves as Australia look to square the series 1-1 at the Gabba.

Hazlewood was rested from the series opener in Melbourne but has been laid low with a virus and has not yet linked up with the team in Brisbane.

His participation in the game is under question and, with Cricket Australia disinclined to call-up Pat Cummins having decided he would be rested from this fixture, 21-year-old seamer Jhye Richardson is in line for a debut.

Warner, at least, is back to full fitness and will be ready to renew his new-ball duel with England paceman Mark Wood.

The Durham man, back on the international stage after a winter of injury and rehabilitation, hurried Warner with a vicious bouncer in Melbourne then dismissed him for two by a steepling delivery which caught the shoulder of the bat.

"I expected that from Woody," said the opener. "He's always up in the high 140s (kph), I expect nothing less from him, he's always been an aggressive bowler. Facing what we have in the Test matches and on wickets that weren't as lively, it's a different mode to get into.

"But there's no excuse from a batting perspective, we should be 'on' all the time."

Paine is the latest player to experience a bout of gastroenteritis

Australian hopes of levelling the series at 1-1 will be boosted by their return to the Gabba.

Their Queensland stronghold lived up to is reputation at the start of the Ashes, playing host to a 10-wicket home win, and they have lost just once to England at the ground in seven ODI outings.

"Every time we come here we come with confidence because we try to make it our fortress in all formats," he said.

"You're always confident as an Australian batsman when you come and look at this wicket. You try to keep in your mind that this ground has worked well in Australia's favour but we've got to be on the money."

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