Veteran spinner sustains injury after lengthy nets with Warne; Faulkner will also miss T20I against South Africa

A tight hamstring is likely to keep Brad Hogg on the sidelines for the second Twenty20 International between Australia and South Africa in Durban on Wednesday (March 12).

Hogg, who has not played for Australia since the ICC World Twenty20 2012 in Sri Lanka, strained his hamstring after a lengthy net session with Shane Warne. “I was in awe of the king [Warne],” Hogg told AAP. “I wanted to make the most of the opportunity and I went for an hour and a half, which was probably too long.”

Brad Hogg

However, Hogg was confident he would recover in time for the ICC World Twenty20 2014 in Bangladesh. “It’s a weird one. I can do everything except bowl,” said Hogg. “Every time I plant that front leg down, I can’t get over there. But I’m glad it’s happened now and not over in Bangladesh. If it was a big game – you’d take the medications and definitely would (play). But I think we’re taking a conservative approach at the moment so I’m right for the World Cup.”

When Hogg, 43, eventually takes field, he will become the oldest Australian cricketer since Clarrie Grimmett, who last represented Australia when he was 44.

Apart from Hogg, James Faulkner was also expected to miss the South Africa clash since he is being eased back in after picking up a knee injury during the One-Day International series against England in January.

Peter Brukner, the Australia team doctor, hoped Faulkner would recover in time for Australia’s first match at the World T20. “The plan’s never really been for him to play any of the matches here (South Africa),” Brukner said. “We don’t want to rush him; he had significant surgery five weeks ago. He’s a young guy. We don’t want to jeopardise his long-term prospects, so we’re taking him along very slowly.

“He’s coming along very well. He bowled a little bit yesterday, did some running. We’ll build him up over the next week or so, and the aim has always been to have him ready to play in Bangladesh.”

The first T20I in Port Elizabeth was washed out without a ball bowled, while rain was also forecast for the second match in Durban.