Finch injured in MCG T20 defeat

In-form batsman Usman Khawaja has been called into the Australian Twenty20 international squad for Sunday's KFC INTL Series finale at the SCG after captain Aaron Finch was ruled out with a hamstring injury.

A replacement skipper has yet to be announced, although veteran allrounder Shane Watson appears to be the likely candidate with Steve Smith and David Warner both departing to New Zealand later today ahead of Wednesday's opening match in the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series.

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Cricket Australia confirmed the National Selection Panel had made a recommendation to the Board regarding their choice to lead the side on Sunday with confirmation likely to come later Saturday.

Finch will undergo scans today to determine the full extent of the injury, but teammate Shane Watson believed the powerful right-hander will be set for at least a week on the sidelines based on his own experience.

"Aaron suffered the injury to his left hamstring while batting and although it is too early to confirm the full extent of the issue, we do know that it will prevent him playing in Sydney on Sunday," Cricket Australia Bupa Sports Science and Sports Medicine Manager Alex Kountouris said.

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"We believe it is not a recurrence of a previous injury he suffered to the same hamstring.

"Aaron will remain in Melbourne to undergo scans and we will be in a position to announce in due course the expected length of time he will be sidelined."

Khawaja had been considered unlucky to miss the initial 17-man squad after he plundered 345 runs in just four matches for the title-winning Sydney Thunder in the fifth edition of the KFC Big Bash League.

He is now set to open the batting as Australia look to salvage some pride following the two disappointing performances in Adelaide and Melbourne, while he will also now comes into calculations for the ODI component of the Qantas Tour of New Zealand if Finch's scans return more bad news.

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Finch's latest hamstring injury is an untimely setback for the T20 skipper just six weeks out from the shortest format's showpiece event in India.

"It is hugely frustrating to suffer this injury," Finch said.

"I am hoping it will not keep me out for a lengthy period of time, especially with an ICC World Twenty20 on the horizon, but I will be guided by the specialists."

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If both Khawaja and Bancroft feature in the XI on Sunday will make it six T20I debutants for the Australians in just three matches, while they will take the total number of players used in the series to 19.

Australia squad for third KFC T20 INTL: Cameron Bancroft (wk), Scott Boland, Cameron Boyce, James Faulkner, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Chris Lynn, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Shaun Tait, Andrew Tye, Shane Watson.