CENTURION (South Africa), March 5: Australia suffered their second major World Cup blow on Wednesday when injured fast bowler Jason Gillespie withdrew from the tournament.

Gillespie had a scan on his right heel on Tuesday after missing the world champions’ last two Group A games.

“I’m shattered and disappointed but these things happen,” he told reporters.

“It’s very disappointing it’s happened to me but I’ll be okay. I’m lucky it’s not too serious, that’s a positive.”

The injury-plagued Gillespie has strained a tendon running alongside the Achilles tendon.

Left-armer Nathan Bracken, who has played 11 one-dayers, was called up to replace him.

“It’s a load-bearing part of my body...being a fast bowler it takes a lot of weight,” Gillespie said. “But, on a positive note, I’m relieved it’s not my Achilles. That could have been a lot more dangerous.

“Injuries are just part and parcel of being a fast bowler. I’ve had my fair share.”

It is Gillespie’s second World Cup disappointment after he was forced to miss the 1999 tournament in England when Australia lifted the trophy.

A key member of the team’s pace attack, he underwent the scan when the injury failed to respond to treatment.

Australia, unbeaten in the opening phase of the tournament, play Sri Lanka on Friday in the first Super Six match.

Leg-spinner Shane Warne withdrew from the Australia squad before bowling a ball in South Africa after it was announced he had failed a drugs test for diuretics. He has since been banned for 12 months.

Gillespie’s injury was initially considered minor but when he tried to bowl before the England game on Sunday in Port Elizabeth it flared up again. He first felt discomfort a week ago before the Group A match against Namibia.

The 27-year-old right-arm fast bowler took eight World Cup wickets at an average of 12.25, including a hugely impressive 10-over spell of three for 13 against India. Generating good pace from a short run-up, Gillespie can move the ball both ways off the seam.

His misfortune is likely to pave the way for Andy Bichel to claim a regular place in the starting line-up. In Gillespie’s absence, Bichel took seven for 20, the second best figures in World Cup history, against England on Sunday.

Bichel, though, will be challenged by Bracken, who was chosen as a replacement ahead of Brad Williams. “We thought Nathan offered more variety as a left-armer and he had success against some of the sides we’ll come up against in the Super Six,” skipper Ricky Ponting said.

Bracken is due to arrive in South Africa on Thursday.

Gillespie’s career has been repeatedly stalled by injuries, most spectacularly when he collided with Steve Waugh while fielding in 1999 and breaking his leg.

He will fly home to Australia on Wednesday and said he hoped to be back bowling in about four weeks.

“I’d like to think I’ll be able to put myself in front of the selectors for the West Indies tour,” he said.—Reuters