Brisbane (Australia), Nov 4: All-rounder Shane Watson has picked up a minor calf strain ahead of Australia's first cricket test against South Africa, which will prevent him from bowling in the series opener starting Friday.
Watson limped off the field on Saturday during New South Wales' Sheffield Shield match against Queensland and scans have shown that the 31-year-old strained a calf muscle.
Left-handed Victoria state opener Rob Quiney was later called into the Australian squad as a standby player and will make his test debut in Brisbane if Watson is not fit.
Quiney made scores of 85 and 11 not out while opening the batting for Australia A against South Africa in a three-day tour match that ended in Sydney on Sunday.
Australia's selectors, including captain Michael Clarke, met to discuss options for Watson's possible replacement and chose the 30-year-old Quiney ahead of his Australia A teammates Phil Hughes and Alex Doolan. Doolan made 161 not out in Australia A's first innings against the Proteas.
“Rob Quiney has impressed the National Selection Panel with his performances in all formats in recent years,” chairman of selectors John Inverarity said.
