Daniel Christian added to Australia Test squad

Brisbane: Daniel Christian was today added to the Australian squad for this week’s second and final Test against New Zealand in Hobart as the home side look to wrap up a series win. The South Australian allrounder, yet to make his Test debut, was included following a side strain injury to paceman Ben Cutting while injured Shane Watson, Pat Cummins, Ryan Harris and Shaun Marsh were not considered. Australia go into the match starting on Friday leading the series 1-0 after Sunday’s emphatic nine-wicket victory over the Black Caps in the Gabba Test inside four days. [caption id=“attachment_147941” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Daniel Christian was today added to the Australian squad for this week’s second and final Test against New Zealand in Hobart as the home side look to wrap up a series win. Julian Herbert/Getty Images”]  [/caption] Debutant paceman James Pattinson turned in a man-of-the-match performance with 5-27 in New Zealand’s second innings of 150 to set the Australians just 19 runs for victory. “It is disappointing for Ben that he will be sidelined for some weeks with a side strain, but this provides an opportunity for Daniel, who has been performing well as an allrounder for South Australia,” chief selector John Inverarity said. “The balance of a team is always enhanced by the presence of an energetic allrounder who is in good form. Michael Clarke and his team are buoyant after their convincing victory in Brisbane,” Inverarity said. “James Pattinson’s performance on debut will provide a great boost not only to the team as a whole but to those who are new to the team in particular,” Inverarity added. Australia team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said opening batsman Shane Watson was making good progress after a right hamstring injury and was on track for the Boxing Day Test against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Teenage paceman Cummins, man-of-the-match in Australia’s two-wicket win over South Africa in Johannesburg last month, is still recovering from a left heel injury. Harris is set to resume bowling this week after recovering from a pelvic injury, while Marsh is progressing well after a lower back injury sustained in South Africa. Kountouris said Cutting, who was in the squad for the first Test but left out of the starting eleven, injured his left abdominal muscle in a side strain injury playing a domestic Sheffield Shield game for Queensland on Friday. Left-arm paceman Mitchell Johnson had surgery last week for a left foot injury and is expected to be out of action for five months. Australia squad: Michael Clarke (capt), David Warner, Phillip Hughes, Usman Khawaja, Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey, Brad Haddin, Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Dan Christian. AFP