Hopes ready to replace Watson

The allrounder James Hopes has been placed on standby for his injured Queensland team-mate Shane Watson, who is battling a left calf strain. Watson was hurt bowling against Bangladesh on Saturday and is waiting for a review from the physiotherapist Alex Kountouris.

Andrew Hilditch, the chairman of selectors, confirmed Hopes as a shadow player, but he felt Watson would regain his fitness before the end of the tournament. "The intention and the expectation is that Shane will recover and play a vital part in the World Cup," Hilditch said.

Hopes said that he would relish the challenge of playing in a World Cup. "If I had to walk into a World Cup semi-final it would be daunting but it's a challenge I'd like to face and it would be a place to make a name for yourself," Hopes told AFP. "I've seen most conditions and played in them so I'll back myself to perform in one-day cricket wherever it's played and if it's in a World Cup semi-final it will be a World Cup semi-final."

The announcement is a blow for Cameron White, the Victoria allrounder who played during the CB Series, although Brad Hogg's strong form has negated the need for another slow bowler. Hopes, 28, is a similar player to Watson and has appeared in nine one-day internationals. He has scored 84 runs at an average of 28 and taken four wickets at 67.25.

Watson's aggressive middle-order batting - he has scored 77 runs at more than one-and-a-half runs a ball during the World Cup - and his containing bowling have made him a valued member of the side. Brad Hodge, who scored a century against The Netherlands in his last game, is likely to replace Watson for Sunday's match with England.