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Queensland all-rounder James Hopes has been placed on stand-by for the Australian World Cup squad following another injury to Shane Watson.
Watson left the field in the second stage Super Eights match against Bangladesh last Sunday (Australian time) with a calf strain and may not be fit before the semi-finals later this month should Australia reach them as expected.
He missed the last World Cup with a back injury and the entire 2006-07 Ashes series with a hamstring complaint.
"We should let you know that we have put James Hopes on stand-by as a shadow player for Shane Watson," Australian chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said.
"It's not a move to Shane Watson leaving the group. The intention and our expectation is that Shane will recover and play a vital part in the World Cup.
"Obviously we have no domestic cricket at home at the moment and we have taken the liberty of naming James as a shadow player.
"He joined the Centre of Excellence about two days ago and resumed training, batting and bowling and so if the worst comes to pass he will be available to hit the ground running."
Watson, who bowls lively medium pace, hits the ball hard and fields skilfully either at slip or in the deep, proved his worth at last year's ICC Champions Trophy ,which Australia won for the first time.
His absence changes the balance of the side and the Australian selectors must now decide whether to return to batsman Brad Hodge, who played the group games as a replacement for the injured Andrew Symonds, or opt for an extra bowler in Monday's (Australian time) match against England.
"We really haven't got a replacement who can play the role he (Watson) is playing," Hilditch said.
"We just have to make a decision, based on conditions, whether we strengthen the batting or the bowling."
The selectors' dilemma may be eased if Symonds, who returned to the team for the group match against South Africa after rupturing his right biceps muscle in February, is able to bowl medium pace again as well as off-spin.
"Andrew resumed bowling medium pace about four days ago," Hilditch said. "I don't know what his assessment is today but he's probably about 75 per cent of his maximum pace.
"Andrew has really exceeded our expectations at all stages."
-REUTERS