SL v AUS 2022: Kane Richardson ruled out of ODI series as Aaron Finch confirms Australia’s XI for first game

Richardson had sustained a hamstring injury during the practice session ahead of 3rd T20I.

Australia have met with a setback ahead of the five-match ODI series against Sri Lanka as experienced pacer Kane Richardson has been ruled out of the entire series due to an injury.

Richardson had sustained a hamstring injury during the practice session ahead of Australia's third ODI against Sri Lanka last Saturday (June 11) and scans have now revealed the extent of the injury.

The right-arm fast bowler is set to depart for Australia and skipper Aaron Finch said that Richardson is likely to be out of action for up to six weeks.

It is certainly a big blow for the touring Australian side that is already missing the services of left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc (finger) and all-rounder Mitch Marsh (calf) owing to injuries.

As a result, Test skipper Pat Cummins is rushed back into Australia's XI for the opening ODI of the series, with fellow seamers Josh Hazlewood and Jhye Richardson featuring in the attack.

Notably, leg-spinner Adam Zampa is currently in Australia for the birth of his first child. In his absence, left-arm spinner Ashton Agar gets the first preference over fellow tweaker Mitchell Swepson.

Australia XI for 1st ODI:

Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Jhye Richardson, Josh Hazlewood