Hodge, Ferguson favourites to replace Watson for Ashes

London, June 24: Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has said that he is prepared to call up a batting
replacement to the Ashes squad because of Shane Watson's knee injury.
The injury-hit all rounder was ruled out of the four-day tour match starting on Wednesday against
Sussex in Hove after undergoing scans on his knee on Tuesday.
Brad Hodge and Callum Ferguson are considered to be at the front of the queue if Watson's
injury means selectors need to bring in a new batsman, FOX Sports reported.
"We might have to do that. One of the discussions that we had this afternoon was about
particularly if we happened to have for some unknown reason a batter hurt themselves in this
game, then we could be a little bit short," Ponting said.
"But we certainly have to consider that and the other thing to consider is that Shane was probably
picked as the spare batsman on the tour," he added.
Meanwhile, pacer Brett Lee has been handed the opportunity to resurrect his Test career in the
tour match in Hove.
source :
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