Gilchrist and Gillespie to miss VB Series match against Pakistan by AFP

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Ground:	Bellerive Oval, Hobart
Player:	AC Gilchrist, JN Gillespie
Event:	VB Series 2004/05

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DateLine: 15th January 2005

 

Australia will be without key players Adam Gilchrist and Jason Gillespie for a tri-series one-day cricket clash with Pakistan at Hobart's Bellerive Oval after both were ruled out with minor injuries.

 

Gilchrist, Australia's wicketkeeper and opening batsman, and Gillespie, who opens the bowling with Glenn McGrath, both suffered niggling injuries during Australia's series-opening 116-run win over the West Indies in Melbourne on Friday.

 

Australia A captain Brad Haddin will be called in to replace Gilchrist - who suffered a minor injury to his left knee - behind the stumps.

 

Gillespie left the ground before Friday's match finished with a strained calf.

 

Cricket Australia, the sport's governing body here, issued a statement saying they were confident Gilchrist would play in the next match against the West Indies in Brisbane on Friday.

 

Gillespie's case will be reviewed in the lead-up to that game, it said.

 

Australian physiotherapist Errol Alcott checked both players on Saturday before ruling them out of the Hobart match.<

 

"We had some disagnostic scans taken earlier today which revealed some soft tissue irritation and swelling," Alcott said of Gilchrist.

 

In other Australian team news, batsman Simon Katich was declared a certain starter on Sunday after missing the tri-series opener because of a throat infection.

 

With opener Matthew Hayden being rested, Katich could open the Australian innings with Michael Clarke, who made 66 at the top of the order on Friday.

 

Haddin could also open, having smashed 129 at better than a run-a-ball for Australia A against Pakistan in a 50-over match in Adelaide on Wednesday.

(Article: Copyright © 2005 AFP)