Australia's Phil Hughes, left, and Mike Hussey celebrate Hughes catching out Sri Lanka's Tillakaratne Dilshan for 5 rubs on the third day of their cricket test match in Sydney, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013. Australia are declared 432 for 9 in reply to Sri Lanka's 294 all out in their first innings. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

Bulls could lose Hauritz for one-day final

Published: 05:23:21 AM, Tue 26 February 2013 UTC

Queensland spinner Nathan Hauritz could join quick Ben Cutting on the sidelines for Wednesday's one-day domestic final at the MCG against Victoria.

With Hauritz nursing a calf injury sustained in the sides' recent Sheffield Shield clash, the Bulls flew offspinning allrounder Jason Floros in to Melbourne on Tuesday as cover.

Legspinner Cameron Boyce, released from the Australia A squad, was also on standby.

"We're not sure how Nathan's going to go," captain James Hopes said before training at the MCG on Tuesday.

"But he's here and we'll give him up until the start to play."

Cutting has already been ruled out with a groin injury.

But both sides have gained some reinforcements since the Bulls beat Victoria in their last round-robin match to clinch a place in the final.

Victoria welcomed back Aaron Finch, the competition's top-scorer this season, and allrounder John Hastings from the Australia A squad and quick Clint McKay from international duty.

The Bulls regained top-order batsman Joe Burns and paceman Alister McDermott from Australia A, along with Boyce.

Hopes said the changed sides nullified the relevance of their recent win over the Bushrangers.

He said Victoria, who won the title two years ago after losing the previous four finals - two of them to Queensland, remained the competition benchmark.

"We like playing them," Hopes said.

"We consider them along with ourselves to be two of the top teams in the country.

"So we want to play the Vics all the time."

Weather could be a factor.

Rain soaked Melbourne on Tuesday with more forecast on Wednesday morning and possible thunderstorms later.

Victorian skipper Cameron White said legspinner Fawad Ahmed, the Pakistani refugee who bowled the Bushrangers to their recent Shield win over the Bulls, could again be a weapon.

But he said Queensland would benefit from having already faced him and the conditions might suit pace.

"It's rained all day today and it's going to rain tomorrow at some stage, so you'd imagine with the two new white balls that that will play a big part in the game," White said.

Victoria: Cameron White (capt), Fawad Ahmed, Aaron Finch, Peter Handscomb, John Hastings, Michael Hill, David Hussey, Clint McKay, Darren Pattinson, Rob Quiney, Chris Rogers, Will Sheridan.

Queensland: James Hopes (capt), Joe Burns, Peter Forrest, Cameron Gannon, Ryan Harris, Chris Hartley, Nathan Hauritz, Alister McDermott, Greg Moller, Michael Neser, Luke Pomersbach, Nathan Reardon (12th men to be named. Bulls have Floros, Boyce on standby).

Tags: greg moller, michael hill, bulls, rob quiney, joe burns, john hastings, cameron gannon, fawad ahmed, ryan harris, queensland, chris rogers, aaron finch, david hussey, cameron white, peter handscomb, darren pattinson, nathan reardon, alister mcdermott, nathan hauritz, peter forrest, chris hartley, michael neser, james hopes, luke pomersbach, clint mckay, arts_entertainment, wednesday morning, batsman joe burns, australia a squad, queensland bulls, victorian bushrangers, queensland cricketers, cricket, sides, calf injury, australian cricketers, australia one day international cricketers, australia national cricket team, victoria cricketers, mcg, 12th men, paceman alister mcdermott, quick ben cutting, quick clint mckay, legspinner fawad ahmed, new white balls, spinner nathan hauritz, recent win, round-robin match, allrounder jason floros, bulls beat victoria, cover.legspinner cameron boyce, skipper cameron white, recent sheffield shield, victoria.with hauritz nursing, recent shield win, white said.victoria, pakistani refugee, competition benchmark.

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