Australia's injury toll continued to escalate after a comprehensive loss in India on Wednesday, with Tim Paine sidelined for the remaining five one-dayers and forcing Australia to draft in its third-choice wicketkeeper.
Paine fractured the ring finger of his right hand while gloving a Peter Siddle bouncer in the 8th over of Australia's 99-run loss in Nagpur, where India leveled the seven-match series 1-1, and will be replaced by South Australia captain Graham Manou.
"Graham richly deserves this opportunity following his Ashes debut and his successful domestic season last year in all forms of the game," selection chairman Andrew Hilditch said Thursday.
Hilditch ruled out an early return from injury for first-choice 'keeper Brad Haddin, who has been recovering from a broken finger and not played at first-class level since Australia's Ashes test series loss in England in August.
"After extensive discussions with Cricket Australia physiotherapist Alex Kountouris and Brad Haddin it was considered it is premature for Brad to resume cricket for Australia," Hilditch said. "It is expected Brad will make a return to first-class cricket this weekend as the first stage of his preparation for a return to cricket for Australia."
The 30-year-old Manou made his international debut as a last-minute replacement for Haddin in the drawn third test at Birmingham, but picked up a hand injury which confined him to the one international appearance.
Haddin finished off the test series and was replaced by Paine for the subsequent limited-overs series and Australia's successful Champions Trophy title defense in South Africa.
The absence of 24-year-old Paine, who averages 32 in 15 ODIs, exposes a selection problem for Australia, which has already called in allrounder Moises Henriques to cover for bowlers Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson and James Hopes, who all have niggling injuries but will remain on tour.
Paine opens the innings, meaning Australia will have to shuffle its top order to accommodate Manou.
Australia was already missing vice-captain Michael Clarke, batsman Callum Ferguson and veteran paceman Nathan Bracken due to injuries before the series. AP
