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Australia have drafted batsman David Hussey, 32, into their ICC Champions Trophy squad as a replacement for injured vice-captain Michael Clarke.

Hussey has scored 598 runs in 23 one-day games for Australia

Clarke, 28, has returned to Australia for treatment on a lower back problem sustained during last month's 6-1 one-day series win over England.

Hussey's inclusion has been approved by the International Cricket Council.

And he is now heading for South Africa, where Australia will play in Friday's semi-final against England in Pretoria.

Hussey is unlikely to play in that match as Australia, who beat Pakistan by two wickets on Thursday to reach the last four, have used the same top-six batsmen for their three group games in the tournament.

It appears therefore that the Victorian batsman is being called up in case of an injury should they make the final, which takes place at Centurion next Monday.

Hussey, who was originally due to fly to India for next Thursday's start of the inaugural Twenty20 Champions League, hit his only one-day century in his last outing for Australia against Scotland in August.

His 111 off 109 balls helped the tourists score 345 in a 189-run win in Edinburgh.

Clarke, meanwhile, was the second Australian to depart the Champions Trophy squad after left-arm seamer Nathan Bracken was ruled out with a knee injury and Doug Bollinger was drafted in as replacement.

Bracken, who plays his domestic cricket for New South Wales, will miss the Champions League Twenty20 campaign after being told he will need surgery.

"Following consultation with knee specialists, Nathan has been booked in for arthroscopic surgery next week," said Cricket Australia doctor Trefor James.

The Twenty20 Champions League features 12 teams from India, Australia, England, South Africa, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and West Indies.

Sussex and Somerset qualified from England after the former beat the latter in the 2009 Twenty20 Cup final.

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Labels: ICC Champions Trophy, ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2009