"It gives him the chance to manage a range of minor injuries that he has endured," said chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns.
The star middle-order batsman felt his team had the potential to turn the tables on Australia in the current tour.
Rivals India and Pakistan will clash in the opening game of a one-day tri-series to be held in Netherlands in August.
Such was rush at the ticket windows that police had to resort to mild-force following a commotion at the stadium.
Ponting said the replacements for McGrath, Gillespie and Lee were just as good.
"I don't think some of the less established countries should play at the World Cup or at the Champions Trophy," the Australian captain said.
\n\nThe team will travel to Amsterdam for a tri-nation tournament between August 22 to 27.
The fast bowler claimed four Bangladesh scalps in an explosive opening spell in the first ODI.
Sri Lanka beat Australia by one run in the second ODI to level the five-match series 1-1.
The number one ODI status will be on the line when second-placed India and table-toppers South Africa clash in a six-match series, starting in Durban on Thursday.
Indian middle order batsman Harmanpreet Kaur took centre stage with an unbeaten 171 and was backed by a disciplined performance by her bowlers as India pulled off a 36-run upset win over six-time world champions Australia.
The SA skipper said his senior players who had already played in the sub-continent would have to take on extra responsibility.
Australia beat Bangladesh by nine wickets, with 29.4 overs to spare, in the second ODI.
Will India play three fast bowlers or three spinners?
'He's come off a second stress fracture in his back and while he's just starting to get up and running in the nets now -- I think he's played six white ball games in the last 18 months -- that's T20 and one-day cricket'
Indian limited-overs skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has identified consistency as the key to retain the ICC Champions Trophy they had won in 2013.
From Prime Minister Narendra Modi to eminent sports personalities, the country was wholesome in its praise for the Indian hockey team's gutsy effort.
Indian men's hockey team had their date with history as they clinched a maiden appearance in the final of the prestigious 36th Hero Champions Trophy Hockey tournament against formidable Australia after hosts Great Britain held Belgium to 3-3 draw in a final round robin match.
World champions Australia rallied from a two-goal deficit to prevail 4-3 over Olympic gold medallists Germany to bolster their position in the 36th Hero Champions Trophy hockey tournament at the Lee Valley Hockey Centre.
India hockey coach Paul van Ass said inability to handle fast-paced attack resulted in his side's capitulation against World champions Australia in the FIH World League semi-finals in Antwerp.
Akashdeep Singh scored twice as Indian men's hockey team stunned world champions Australia 3-1 in the fourth and final Test to register a historic 3-1 series win over the mighty Kookaburras in their home soil in Perth.
India once again paid the price of some sloppy defending and conceded a late goal to lose 2-3 to lower-ranked Malaysia and crash out of the title race of the 24th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament in Ipoh.
India mantained its number three position in the recently released MRF Tyres ICC ODI Team Rankings which is being headed by world champions Australia. With 110 rating points in its kitty, India are place below Australia (123) and second-placed New Zealand (113).
Australia's quest for a record hat-trick of titles started with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Ireland in the opening Pool D match of the men's hockey World Cup, in Bhubaneswar, on Friday.
Opener Shikhar Dhawan believes the right blend of youth and experience makes India a formidable side and it would be great if they can emulate the past success of five-time World champions Australia.
An impressive England demolished Pakistan 8-2 in their second Pool A match to register their best-ever win in the history of the FIH Hockey Champions Trophy.
Belgium are on red hot form and have stunned strong gold medal contenders and world champions Australia.
India hockey coach Roeland Oltmans is delighted at his team's outstanding performance at the Champions Trophy and said it will boost their confidence to produce a better show at the Rio Olympic Games.
New Zealand will host their first day-night Test when England tour the country in early 2018, pending final approval from both teams.
India were outclassed 0-4 by hosts Belgium in a lop-sided last-four clash, with Florent Van Aubel's fine hat-trick playing a pivotal role in the side's passage to the final of the FIH Hockey World League semi-finals in Antwerp.
India's chances of advancing to the final suffered a blow after they went down 1-2 to defending champions New Zealand in their penultimate round-robin league match of the 25th Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament at Ipoh in Malaysia. Goals from Ken Russell (28th minute) and Nick Wilson (41st) clinched victory for defending champions New Zealand, who managed to weather the hot and humid conditions better than the Indians, whose only goal came from Mandeep Singh in the 36th minute. Wilson's match-winner resulted from a defensive error committed by the Indians as they failed to clear the ball properly in their own striking circle. New Zealand benefitted from the loose ball in the Indian circle in the 41st minute, when a reverse shot from the goal-line was padded by the Indian goalkeeper and deflected to the middle. Defender Harmanpreet failed to connect in his reflex attempt to push the ball out and Wilson had the easiest task of shooting into the goal for what turned out to be the match-winner for the Black Sticks
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances