Australia has reportedly replaced injured batsman Shaun Marsh with Phillip Hughes while clearing fit-again paceman Jackson Bird to join the 15-man squad in South Africa for the three-Test series starting on February 12.
Though named in the squad, both Marsh and Bird stayed put in Australia battling fitness issues, with Marsh injuring his calf during Australia’s one-day series against England and Bird injuring his back in a Big Bash League match last week.
According to Sport24, however, the pace bowler was cleared by the medical team after he underwent bowling sessions under coach Darren Lehmann’s observation, while national selector John Inverarity stated that as Marsh’s injury has not improved as required, he has been withdrawn from the Test squad and replaced by Hughes.
The report mentioned that Bird, along with teammate Moises Henriques , would fly to South Africa on Friday.
After the first Test in Centurion, Port Elizabeth will host the second from February 20 while Cape Town is the venue for the third and final Test from March 1, the report added. (ANI)