Fitness worries looms for Australia ahead of the 2nd ODI

Australia could miss the service of pacer Josh Hazlewood for Friday’s one-day international against England. Wicket-keeper batsman Tim Paine is also in doubt ahead of the second game.

Both teams have suffered from health issues in recent days; Joe Root hospitalized on the final morning of the Ashes due to severe dehydration and the likes of James Vince and David Warner also struggling with sickness.

Paine is the latest player to suffer from gastroenteritis, though it is expected he will be fit to take the field. Australia will look to level the series 1-1 in the five-match series.

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Hazlewood was rested from the series opener in Melbourne but has been laid low with a virus and has not joined the team in Brisbane. With Hazlewood’s participation in question, 21-year-old seamer Jhye Richardson is in line for a debut.

However, Warner is fit to resume his opening duties. Mark Wood hurried Warner with a bouncer in Melbourne then dismissed him for two by a rising delivery which caught the top of the bat.

“I expected that from Woody. He’s always up in the high 140s (kph), I expect nothing less from him, he’s always been an aggressive bowler. Facing what we have in the Test matches and on wickets that weren’t as lively, it’s a different mode to get into.

“But there’s no excuse from a batting perspective, we should be ‘on’ all the time,” Warner said ahead of the match.

Australia have a good track record against England at the Gabba. They have lost just once to England at the ground in seven ODI outings.

“You’re always confident as an Australian batsman when you come and look at this wicket. You try to keep in your mind that this ground has worked well in Australia’s favor but we’ve got to be on the money,” Warner concluded.

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