Hazlewood out, Paine in doubt

Monitoring Desk

SYDNEY: Australian quick Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of Friday’s second ODI against England in Brisbane with illness, while glovesman Alex Carey has been called up to cover for Tim Paine.

The Aussies lost the first of the five-match series against the tourists in Melbourne last Sunday, and with Hazelwood Thursday determined too unwell to play, paceman Jhye Richardson appears set to make his debut on a Gabba pitch expected to provide plenty for fast bowlers. “You’re always confident as an Australian batsman when you come and look at this wicket, that’s for sure,” Australian vice-captain David Warner told Cricket Australia’s official website on Wednesday.

“It’s always got good bounce and carry for the bowlers as well.” Hazlewood is among several players in both the Australian and English locker rooms to be hit by illness in recent weeks, with team mates Paine, Warner, Steve Smith and Patrick Cummins all stuck down by a bug. England Test captain Joe Root suffered through stomach problems during the Ashes test series, while batsman James Vince has also been affected during the tour. Paine remains in doubt for Friday’s clash, with Carey on standby, after he made a dashing century off just 56 balls for the Adelaide Strikers in Australia’s Twenty20 Big Bash League Wednesday, to beat the Hobart Hurricanes. The 26-year-old, who was previously floated as a potential wicketkeeper for the Ashes, is set to make his international ODI debut if Paine is not cleared to play.