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Australia add pace duo after Harris injury

BIRMINGHAM, England - Australia have called up pace bowlers Peter George and Doug Bollinger to their Test and Twenty20 squads respectively as replacements for the injured Ryan Harris for matches against Pakistan in England.

Harris suffered a tour-ending knee injury in the fifth and final one-day international against England at Lord’s on Saturday, which Australia won by 42 runs to reduce the hosts’ winning series margin to 3-2.

South Australia quick George, 23, has impressed in domestic cricket but has yet to make his international debut.

Australia’s chairman of selectors, Andrew Hilditch, said in a Cricket Australia statement issued Monday: “Peter George had an excellent (Sheffield) Shield season last year and was called up to the New Zealand tour earlier in the year where he impressed around the squad.

“He has followed that with a very impressive bowling performance for Australia A against Sri Lanka A recently and we are confident he will perform well at international level should he get the opportunity on this tour.”

Bollinger was already in England, having been a member of the one-day squad.

Australia arrived on tour without several injured fast bowlers including Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus.

Johnson, however, has since recovered from an elbow infection and is now with the Australia squad.

Australia play the first of two back-to-back Twenty20 internationals against Pakistan at Edgbaston later here on Monday, with the match due to start at 5pm local time (1600GMT).

They then face Pakistan in two Tests at Lord’s and Headingley later this month.

The matches are being played in England because of concerns about the security situation in Pakistan.