Michael Hussey called up as cover for Justin Langer

Cricket Australia today announced that Western Warriors batsman, Michael Hussey, has been called into the Australian Test squad as cover for Justin Langer who is nursing a fractured rib.

Langer is continuing to recover from the injury, suffered when he was hit in the rib-cage while batting for Western Australia during Saturday's ING Cup match against the Victorian Bushrangers in Melbourne.

Although a final decision on Langer's fitness has yet to be made, the National Selection Panel (NSP) has opted to introduce Hussey for the coming days in the advent that Langer is not capable of playing ahead of Thursday's First Test in Brisbane.

NSP Chairman Trevor Hohns said: "The reports from team medical staff suggest that Justin will aim to practice tomorrow, but in the event that he's not fit to play, we want to have a player on stand-by with the squad in Brisbane.

"Although Justin has signalled his intent to train and make himself available for the Test, we must cover all of our bases and that's why we have selected Mike Hussey as cover.

"He (Hussey) has played some fine cricket for Australia in the one-day international arena, so he is familiar with the set-up within the national side.

"He is a quality top-order batsman in first-class cricket and we believe that he can fill a role in the Test side if required."

It is expected that Hussey will travel to Brisbane to join the Australian Test squad today.

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Australian selectors name team for First Test (Thurs Oct 27)