SYDNEY, Oct 15: Australia’s Darren Lehmann will miss the triangular limited-overs tournament with New Zealand and hosts India later this month because of a heel injury.
The injury had also forced the middle-order batsman out of the second Test with Zimbabwe starting in Sydney on Friday.
Jason Gillespie also remains in doubt because of a side muscle tear as injuries have forced Australia to select a weakened squad for the tournament.
Brad Williams is on standby for the fast bowler, who needs to pass a fitness test before being included on the Indian tour.
Nathan Bracken, who replaced Gillespie at the World Cup when he broke down, was recalled for the tour after paceman Glenn McGrath was ruled out last week.
Michael Clarke replaced Lehmann in the 14-man squad.
Lehmann was ruled out of the Zimbabwe Test after scans showed the South Australian was suffering from acute inflammation of his left Achilles tendon.
Lehmann, who has shed several kilograms in pre-season, said he had been doing a lot of running in recent weeks and that may have contributed to the injury.
“I’m 33, I’m not getting any younger and as the doctor said, if it did rupture that’s probably it — no play again,” Lehmann told reporters on Wednesday.
The tournament will be held from Oct 23 to Nov 18.
Squad: Ricky Ponting (captain), Adam Gilchrist (vice-captain), Michael Bevan, Andy Bichel, Nathan Bracken, Michael Clarke, Ian Harvey, Matthew Hayden, Brad Hogg, Brett Lee, Jimmy Maher, Damien Martyn, Andrew Symonds, Jason Gillespie (subject to fitness).—Reuters