Australia turn to Holland as they shuffle pack for India series

The left-arm spinner Jon Holland has been called up to the Australia squad for the seven-game tour of India. But vice captain Michael Clarke will not feature in the one-day series as he continues to recover from the back injury that forced him home early from the Champions Trophy in South Africa. Brad Haddin (finger), Callum Ferguson and Nathan Bracken (both knee) are also unavailable.

Apart from including the 22-year-old finger spinner Holland, selectors have recalled Western Australia batsman Shaun Marsh, who missed the 6-1 series win in England and Champions Trophy victory due to a hamstring injury. The Cape Cobras go in search of their second straight win in the Champions League Twenty20 when they take on the Otago Volts in Hyderabad today. Jean-Paul Duminy struck a superb 99 as the Cobras beat the Royal Challengers by five wickets in Bangalore on Thursday in Group C.

Elsewhere today, the Deccan Chargers play Somerset in the opening game in Group A. Yesterday, the NSW Blues beat the Diamond Eagles by 53 runs after making a total of 144 - with Simon Katich scoring 53 for the winners off 41 deliveries. The captain also engineered two run-outs. Somerset opener Marcus Trescothick was named English cricket's Player of the Year by his fellow professionals on Thursday after scoring 2,934 runs in all cricket, including 1,817 first-class runs at an average of 75.70.

@Email:akunawicz@thenational.ae