John Hastings win ODI call-up for India tour

The allrounder John Hastings could be set for an ODI debut after he was called up to replace his Victoria team-mate James Pattinson in Australia's squad in India. Pattinson, who was already on tour with the Test side, will fly home due to a back injury that has ended his immediate hopes of joining his brother Darren in the ranks of international cricketers.

"During the past week, James has complained of some back stiffness during preparation for the second Test of the VB tour of India in Bangalore," Australia's physio Kevin Sims said. "James' symptoms were consistent with a low back-bone stress injury and scans have confirmed the early stages of a low back stress fracture.

"He has therefore been withdrawn from the one-day squad as he will require a period of rest from bowling. He will be closely monitored by Victorian and Cricket Australia medical staff to determine his return to cricket."

The injury is a major blow for Pattinson, 20, who had jumped into Test contention when he was called in to cover for the injured New South Wales fast man Josh Hazlewood in India. However, it has opened the door for Hastings, 24, who was Victoria's leading wicket taker in all three formats last season.

A tall right-arm fast-medium bowler, Hastings is also a powerful striker of the ball in the lower order and has thrived since moving from New South Wales three years ago. The chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said Hastings, who won last summer's Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year award, was "a very exciting prospect".

"John Hastings performed very well at interstate level last year across all formats of the game," Hilditch said. "It is disappointing for James Pattinson to suffer an injury at this stage however it does present a great opportunity for John to show his potential at international level prior to selection for the 2010-11 ICC Cricket World Cup on the sub-continent."

Australia play three one-day internationals following the ongoing Test in Bangalore. The series begins on October 17 and the squad is already without several first-choice players after the selectors decided to rest Ricky Ponting, Mitchell Johnson and Shane Watson ahead of their busy summer.