April 23, 2009

Australia opener Shaun Marsh will fly home from Australia's tour of the United Arab Emirates on Friday morning after scans confirmed a recurrence of a hamstring injury.

He will be replaced in the Australian squad by recent Test debutant Marcus North.

North will join his Australian teammates in Dubai on Friday night after flying in from England.

Marsh re-injured his left hamstring when he dived to make a sharp single while batting in Wednesday night's opening one-day loss against Pakistan in Dubai.

It was his first game in national colours since badly tearing the same muscle fielding against New Zealand at the WACA on February 1.

Marsh had scans in Dubai on Thursday, confirming the injury.

He will require further assessment before it is determined whether he will be fit to play in the Twenty20 World Cup in England in June.

But, given his return on Wednesday night came almost three months after the initial injury, he is likely to struggle to make it back in time for the Cup, which starts on June 5.

Shane Watson is expected to move up from No.3 to share the opening duties with Brad Haddin in Friday's match against Pakistan in Dubai.

David Hussey, who was 12th man in the opening game, should slot into the middle order.

North had been in England to play county cricket with Hampshire.

The 29-year-old played two Tests against South Africa in February and March, scoring a century on debut, but is yet to represent his country in the 50-over format.

His handy off-spin bowling would have helped his selection cause, given spin seems set to play a major part in the five-game series against Pakistan.

Pakistan spin duo Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal took eight wickets between them to set up their side's comfortable win on Wednesday.