Batty gains England chance

Snape will have to sit out the VB series

Spin bowler Gareth Batty has been picked ahead of Test spinner Richard Dawson to replace the injured Jeremy Snape in Englan's one-day squad.

Worcestershire off-spinner Batty, 25, has been based in Adelaide with the England Academy squad.

He will join England in Canberra on Monday ahead of Tuesday's game at Manuka Oval against the Prime Minister's XI, an England spokesman said.

Dawson, 22, has played five Tests including the third Test earlier this month in Perth against Australia, but is uncapped in limited overs internationals.

He will join the academy squad for two matches in Canberra next week, Clarke said.

Snape broke his thumb while batting against New South Wales in a one-day match in Sydney on Friday.

England suffer new injury blow

England play Australia A in Sydney on Sunday before heading to Canberra to face the Prime Minister's XI.

The triangular limited overs series, which includes Sri Lanka, starts on 13 December 13 when Australia host England in Sydney.

Chris Read, a 24-year-old from the academy, will be wicketkeeper for England in Tuesday's game.

"It's just an opportunity to give Alec Stewart a break," the spokesman said.

England, who have not won a match on tour and are trailing 3-0 in the Ashes test series, have suffered a series of injury mishaps on the Ashes tour.

Darren Gough and Simon Jones have been sent home while Andrew Flintoff, John Crawley, left-arm spinner Ashley Giles and pace bowlers Andrew Caddick and Chris Silverwood have all missed Tests.