Australia call up Matthew Wade as cover as Usman Khawaja is ruled out of World Cup

Australia will need the permission of the ICC event technical committee to officially replace the left-handed Khawaja with wicketkeeper-batsman Wade

Australia have called up Matthew Wade and Mitchell Marsh to their World Cup squad as cover after suffering further injuries to squad members in Saturday’s narrow defeat agaisnt South Africa.

Usman Khawaja suffered a hamstring strain, while Marcus Stoinis suffered a side injury. It is his second such issue of the tournament, having already had his participation in the tournament threatened earlier on in the competition.

Both men are set to undergo scans on Sunday to determine the extent of any damage, with Stoinis not yet ruled out of contention. However, coach Justin Langer has already ruled Khawaja out of the remainder of the tournament.

"Ussie's got a hamstring strain so he'll be out for probably three to four weeks which is a real shame but we have to work hard on getting him up for the Ashes now," Langer said. "Such a pity for him he's been so integral to how we've been playing."

Australia will need the permission of the ICC event technical committee to officially replace the left-handed Khawaja with wicketkeeper-batsman Wade.

Meanwhile, it is the second time in this competition that Marsh has joined the squad, following his call-up after the initial side strain that Stoinis picked up against India.

Both Wade and Marsh were already in England as part of the Australia A side currently touring the country.

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Wade, especially, has been in truly remarkable form, striking 355 runs in four one-day innings, including a 45-ball ton against Derbyshire – the fastest List A hundred by an Australian.

Peter Handscomb has already been called up to Australia’s squad as a replacement for Shaun Marsh, who suffered a broken wrist after being struck by a delivery from Pat Cummins during a training session.

Because of Australia’s loss to South Africa on Saturday, Justin Langer’s team will now face England at Edgbaston on Thursday in the second semi-final, with India taking on New Zealand at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

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