HOBART, Australia (AP) Veteran paceman Peter Siddle has been ruled out of the second test with a back injury, meaning Australia will likely need to make three changes to the lineup that lost the series-opening match by 177 runs to South Africa.
Cricket Australia said Siddle, who has previously had a stress fracture, had aggravated his back problems. He bowled 26 overs in the second innings in Perth as the South African batsmen dominated, taking 2-62.
Jackson Bird has been drafted into the squad as injury cover. Uncapped Joe Mennie, who was 12th man in Perth, is another option to be called into the pace attack that is led by Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.
Opener batsman Shaun Marsh broke a finger in the first test and has been ruled out of the series, while middle-order batsman Adam Voges sustained a hamstring injury while fielding.
Joe Burns and Callum Ferguson have been added to the Australia squad as potential replacements.
