Australia face fitness crisis before 2nd ODI against India

VADODARA: The second One-day International between India and Australia will be played on Wednesday at Nagpur.

Australia are grappling with injuries to three key bowlers ahead of the match.

Pace spearhead Brett Lee suffered a sore elbow, fast bowler Mitchell Johnson picked up an ankle injury and James Hopes sustained a hamstring strain during Sunday''s first match here, which Australia won by four runs.

Australian team physiotherapist Kevin Sims ruled out Hopes for the Nagpur game and said the other two would have late tests.

Lee, 32, has been Australia''s form bowler, regaining his pace and rhythm during the recent Champions Trophy in South Africa after being sidelined for the Ashes series in England.

The fast bowler also played a key role with both bat and ball in New South Wales'' title victory in a Twenty20 competition in India last week.

Johnson hurt his ankle while fielding early in the match on Sunday and appeared to be in significant pain. He left the field briefly but returned to complete his 10 overs and take two wickets.

Hopes picked up the hamstring strain in his right leg after he had sent down just two overs and had to be replaced by part-time spinner Adam Voges.

The world champions have two more specialist fast bowlers in their 15-member squad in Doug Bollinger and Ben Hilfenhaus.

Australia are already depleted by injuries to key middle-order batsman Michael Clarke, first-choice wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, paceman Nathan Bracken and batsman Callum Ferguson.

India''s Yuvraj Singh, who missed the first match of the seven-match series after failing to recover fully from a finger injury, is expected to take the field in Nagpur.