Hauritz injury plagues World Cup squad

Hobart:

Uncertainty over Australia's World Cup squad deepened today after off-spinner Nathan Hauritz appeared to hurt his shoulder, adding to injuries plaguing the selection announced this week.

Hauritz, named on Tuesday as a member of Australia's 15-man squad for the tournament, was playing against England in his first game for Australia since his omission from the entire Ashes Test series.

He appeared to dislocate his right shoulder after sliding to field a ball in the outfield of the Bellerive Oval in Hobart, Tasmania.

Hauritz writhed in agony on the ground for several minutes before he was helped off the field and taken to hospital for X-rays.

The setback puts Hauritz among several injured Australian players now in doubt for the World Cup, complicating the selection for the tournament, which starts next month in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Xavier Doherty has been Australia's first-choice spinner in recent times, but was overlooked for the World Cup despite playing on Sunday in the first match of Australia's current one-day international series against England.

Hauritz joins Mike Hussey on the list of injured, with the veteran left-handed batsman in a race against time to prove his fitness after undergoing surgery this week for a severe hamstring tear.

The Australian selectors have already said a decision on Hussey's place in the squad will be left as late as possible.

Captain Ricky Ponting is also in doubt, after breaking a finger in the Ashes Test series, while all-rounder Cameron White appeared to hurt the index finger on his right hand while batting today.

Further complicating matters for the defending World Cup champions was a stellar innings in Hobart by Shaun Marsh, the only man in today's team not named in the World Cup squad.

The 27-year-old left-hander, called in to replace Hussey in today's match, rescued the Australian innings with a sparkling 110, helping Australia to 230 runs by the end of their innings and a 46-run victory over England.