Sean Abbott picks up side strain in blow to Sydney Sixers and Australia plans

The seamer is the leading wicket-taker in this year's Big Bash tournament and is set to join Derbyshire for next summer's T20 Blast

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Sean Abbott is set to miss four weeks of Big Bash action after suffering a side strain during Saturday's Sydney derby.

With 11 wickets in five outings, the Sixers seamer is the competition's leading bowler so far, sitting three scalps clear of teammate Tom Curran, Hobart Hurricanes youngster Riley Meredith and Kane Richardson of the Melbourne Renegades.

However, the 27-year-old picked up the injury this weekend during the first innings of his side's dramatic Super Over win over their cross-town rivals at the SCG, with a club statement confirming that he will remain with the side "with the view of returning to action before the end of the BBL season".

After claiming two T20 wickets against Pakistan last month in his first Australia appearance in almost five years, Abbott had been named in a 14-man squad for a three-match ODI series against India in January.

Cricket Australia has today announced that Hurricanes opener D'Arcy Short will take Abbott's place in the squad, though selector Trevor Hohns has insisted that the bowler remains on the radar of the national setup.

"It is extremely unfortunate for Sean who is very much a part of our white-ball squad plans leading into the T20 World Cup [at home in October] and the World Cup [in India in 2023]," Hohns said in a statement.

"D'Arcy offers the squad another spinning allrounder option along with Ashton Agar, which balances the squad out nicely along with four world-class fast bowlers and Adam Zampa. His proven record and ability to bat anywhere in the order will also be a great asset to the squad."

Australia squad: Aaron Finch (c), Alex Carey (vc/wk), Pat Cummins (vc), Ashton Agar, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Marnus Labuschagne, Kane Richardson, D'Arcy Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Ashton Turner, David Warner, Adam Zampa

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