Warner Replaces injured Marsh for the Second Test

Dashing Opening batsman David Warner has replace injured Shaun Marsh for the second test match against South Africa.

Left-hander Marsh will head back to Australia for treatment for his back injury sustained in the first test.

Chairman of selectors, Andrew Hilditch, told "David has been in tremendous form for New South Wales in all forms of the game, including a recent century for New South Wales in the Bupa Sheffield Shield competition.

"We are certain that should the opportunity present itself he will be ready to perform at Test level.”

Australian team physio Alex Kountouris said:

“Shaun injured his back while batting during the first Test in Cape Town. He was in considerable pain and was obviously restricted while batting in the second innings. He is slowly improving but will return to Australia for further investigation and treatment as he will not recover in time to play the second Test in Johannesburg."

Warner will leave Sydney Monday morning and will join the Australian squad in Johannesburg on Monday afternoon.

Australia lost their first test against the Proteas and will look to bounce back in the second test which starts on Thursday at Johannesburg.

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PAKISTAN EASED TO AN 8 WICKET WIN AGAINST LANKANS

 Shahid Afridi made an arousing return from retirement with a match winning spell in the first one day against Srilanka in Dubai. Afridi took 3 wickets for 27 runs and the Lankans’ were all-out for 131.

Earlier Srilanka captain Tillakaratne Dilshan won the toss and elected to bat. They were off to a shaky start and Dilshan was bowled in the second over by Cheema. Then wickets fell at regular intervals and they were bowled out for 131 in 40.3 overs. Afridi took 3 wickets, off spinners Ajmal and Hafeez shared 2 wickets each and the quick’s Cheema and Razzaq got 1 each.

Middle order batsman Dinesh Chandimal was the top scorer for Srilanka with 28 with 1 boundary and 2 sixes. Test hero Kumar Sangakara failed to fire in the first ODI.

Pakistan lost a quick wicket in the chase as Hafeez was caught by debutant K Kulasekara off Lakmal’s bowling. Then the experienced duo of Imran Farhat and Younis Khan steadied the innings, both scored half centuries. Farhat was the second wicket for Lakmal in the 19^th over of the innings.

The 2^nd wicket paired had a 103 run partnership and former skipper Younis Khan steered Pakistan than home in the 22^nd over. Lanka’s ace speedster Malinga failed to fire and gave way 35 runs in 5 overs.

Former Pakistan Skipper Shahid Afridi was adjudged as Man of the Match for his 3 for 27 with an economy rate of 2.82. Pakistan took 1 – 0 lead in the 5 match ODI Series.

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