Australia set to replace Watson

Shane Watson © Getty Images

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Australia are considering the possibility of calling up a replacement to their ICC World Twenty20 squad after all-rounder Shane Watson was ruled out of the rest of the tournament.

Watson suffered a hamstring strain in Australia’s emphatic 10-wicket victory over Sri Lanka yesterday, which sealed their place in tomorrow’s semi-final against India at Kingsmead.

He had only just recovered from a hamstring strain which ruled him out of the early matches in the tournament.

But the injury was regarded as serious enough for Australia to send Watson home this morning and they are currently considering calling up a replacement to boost their options.

Coach Tim Nielsen revealed: “He’s got a sore hamstring again and after bringing him over here and nursing him through and doing everything we could to get him right for yesterday, we decided the best thing was to get him home and give him time to recover.

“We’re working through the process of a replacement but unfortunately Andrew Hilditch, our chairman of selectors, went home yesterday and is still on the plane.

"We’re feverishly trying to make phone calls and get in contact with them and get something happening across the eight-hour time difference.”

Watson had been brought into Australia’s side yesterday as a replacement for captain Ricky Ponting, who has also been ruled out for the rest of the tournament with a hamstring problem.