Aussie bowling stocks depleted following exit of injured Siddle, Pattinson

Melbourne, Apr 20(ANI): Australia's fast bowling stocks have been stripped to bare essentials with the exit of Peter Siddle and James Pattinson, who have been home with back injuries.

Siddle was showing "the early signs of a low back bone stress injury", while Pattinson "had an episode of acute low back pain," a Cricket Australia statement said.

No replacement players will be sent over to the Caribbean, leaving Ben Hilfenhaus, Ryan Harris and Mitchell Starc to shoulder the pace burden for the third and final Test which starts on Monday in Dominica.

"Peter Siddle developed some back soreness late in the first Test against the West Indies and scans conducted in Trinidad showed the early signs of a low back bone stress injury," The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Australia's team physiotherapist, Kevin Sims, as saying.

Pattinson had scans on Wednesday night after leaving the field on day three (Tuesday) complaining of back spams. CA said on Thursday he was suffering from acute lower back pain, and with the short turnaround between Tests, it was decided to send him back.

The injury comes three months after he broke down during the Sydney Test with a foot ailment, which cut short his series against India and saw him miss much of the ODI tri-series.

"James Pattinson had an episode of acute low back pain after fielding and throwing awkwardly late on day three of the second Test," Sims said.

Their injuries pave the way for Starc to play his first Test for Australia since the third Test against India in Perth. (ANI)