One-day series: Australia call up Phil Hughes to replace Michael Clarke in UAE

Clarke was ruled out of the series, which starts on October 7, with a ‘significant’ hamstring injury which forced him to miss most of their recent tour of Zimbabwe.

Left-hander Hughes was overlooked for the original squad despite scoring two half centuries against South Africa in the recent triangular one-day series in Zimbabwe, but he was scheduled to be in the UAE for the Tests against Pakistan.

He was already due to travel to the Emirates earlier than the rest of his Test team-mates to work on his batting against spin with coaching consultant Muttiah Muralitharan.

Clarke’s setback provides Hughes with a chance to state his case for a place in Australia’s World Cup squad – they are co-hosting next year’s tournament with New Zealand.

After a one-off Twenty20 match on October 5, Australia play Pakistan in the three one-dayers before the first Test starts October 22.

Cricket Australia physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said Clarke’s injury was more serious than first expected, and there are doubts he will be ready for the Test section of the tour.

“We are hopeful that he will be available for the Test series but this will be determined at a date closer to the first Test,” Kountouris said.