HAMILTON, Feb 20: Australia’s injury woes just ahead of the World Cup got even worse when Matthew Hayden suffered a fractured big toe during the third and final One-day International match of the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy at Hamilton on Tuesday.

Hayden hammered an unbeaten 181 despite being hit on the shoe by a full delivery from Mark Gillespie.

Alex Kountouris, the Australian physiotherapist, said a decision on Hayden’s return to cricket will be taken in Brisbane on Wednesday: "An X-ray of Hayden's right foot has shown a fracture to his big toe. He will see a specialist in Brisbane tomorrow at which point his medical management will be outlined including his return to play."

Hayden's injury was the latest setback to a team which has been plagued by fitness worries recently. Brett Lee is a doubt for the World Cup with an ankle injury, an arm injury to Andrew Symonds might severely hamper his bowling and fielding, while Michael Clarke was sent back home from New Zealand due to soreness in the hip.—Agencies