Injured Steven Smith flies home as Australia look to juggle Twenty20 side
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Your support makes all the difference.Australia batsman Steven Smith has gone home from the tour of England after suffering a quad strain during a training session.
Cricket Australia said that following Smith's involvement in the Ashes series, and the preceding Australia A tour, a decision had been made to rest him from the upcoming limited-overs matches.
"Steven Smith sustained a very minor left quad strain at training and after a demanding Ashes series the national selection panel has decided it is best for him to return to Australia," a statement read.
Smith did not play in the first NatWest Twenty20 at the Ageas Bowl on Thursday but could have featured at Durham tomorrow as Australia look to tinker with a line-up that they have failed to settle on throughout the summer. Having scored his maiden Test century at The Oval last week, Smith may have added even more firepower to a batting line-up that put England to the sword on Thursday night, with Aaron Finch hitting a world-record 156 in a total of 248 for 6.
England will now ponder the inclusion of Michael Carberry, James Tredwell and Boyd Rankin, who all missed out in the first match. Danny Briggs may miss out, while Carberry could slot in at the top of the order in place of Alex Hales. Steven Finn could also be left out in favour of Rankin.
Meanwhile, England's women are also looking to end the summer on a high note in Durham. Charlotte Edwards' team have already regained the Ashes with 10 points to Australia's four, and the England captain admitted she is pleased with the way they recovered from losing the opening one-day international at Lord's.
"To beat the world champions after the winter we had is a pretty special feeling," Edwards said. "At Lord's that looked a long way off, so the character this team has shown... I love every single one of them."
Durham details: Likely T20 teams
England M Lumb, M Carberry, L Wright, J Root, E Morgan, R Bopara, J Buttler (wkt), S Broad (capt), J Tredwell, J Dernbach, B Rankin
Australia D Warner, A Finch, S Marsh, S Watson, G Bailey (capt), G Maxwell, M Wade (wkt), M Johnson, M Starc, F Ahmed,J Hazlewood
Saturday 2.30pm, Sky Sports Ashes
England women (v Australia) C Edwards (capt), H Knight, S Taylor (wkt), D Wyatt, L Greenway, N Sciver, A Brindle, J Gunn, K Brunt, D Hazell, H Colvin
Saturday 10am, Sky Sports Ashes
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