Australia call in all-rounder as cover for Hauritz

Melbourne:

Australia on Tuesday included all-rounder Steve Smith as cover for spinner Nathan Hauritz, who injured his right-hand finger during a practice session ahead of the third and final cricket Test against the West Indies in Perth starting on Wednesday.

"Leg spinning all-rounder Steve Smith will join the Australian squad as a standby player for Nathan Hauritz who suffered a knock to the middle finger on his right hand during the team's finals practice session before tomorrow's third Test against the West Indies at the WACA," Cricket Australia said in a statement.

Hauritz suffered a blow to his finger at training and is in some doubt for the final match of the series, which Australia leads 1-0.

"To ensure sufficient coverage is available the NSP has today named Steve Smith as a standby player for Nathan. Steve is a leg-spinning all rounder who has been identified as an exciting young talent capable of having a significant impact at international level for Australia," NSP Chairman Andrew Hilditch said.

Smith will join the squad on Tuesday evening in Perth and will return to state duties is he does not make the final XI.