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Australia have been hit with injury worries to their bowlers just one game into the seven-match series against India, with James Hopes ruled out of the second match and a question mark over the availability of strike bowlers Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson.

Allrounder Hopes suffered a hamstring strain during the first match in Vadodara on Sunday. Mitchell Johnson left the field briefly with a left ankle problem while Lee complained of a sore elbow. Lee managed only six overs during the chase, left the field after his second spell and later returned.

“Hopes, Lee and Johnson all underwent scans in Vadodara this morning,” team physiotherapist Kevin Sims said. “James has suffered a minor right hamstring strain. He will therefore be unavailable for the next game… however [he] is expected to be available for the latter games of this series.

“Brett Lee has a mild right elbow strain and will continue to be treated and assessed prior to the next game.

“Mitchell Johnson suffered an inversion strain of his left ankle. He will now receive treatment and, as with Brett, it will depend on how he responds to treatment over the next two days before a decision is made on his availability for the second game of the series.”

Australia lost key players Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin and Nathan Bracken to injuries before the tour began. The captain Ricky Ponting didn’t hide his displeasure over the scheduling of the ODI series, which began just three days after the Champions League Twenty20, where the New South Wales players arrived in Vadodara to join the rest of their Australia team-mates less than 12 hours before the match.

The second ODI is in Nagpur on Wednesday.
Source:Cricket News

Image Source:Cricinfo

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