Australia's Christian Out of Pakistan T20s

London: Australia's Dan Christian has been ruled out of next week's two Twenty20 internationals against Pakistan at Edgbaston with a calf injury and will be replaced by James Hopes, officials said on Friday.

Christian suffered the injury while playing for English county side Hampshire and now his place will go to fellow seam-bowling all-rounder Hopes, already in the UK with the Australia side that are currently 3-1 down in their five-match one-day series against England that concludes at Lord's on Saturday.

Australia's physiotherapist Alex Kountouris, in a Cricket Australia statement, said: "Dan Christian injured his calf muscle playing for Hampshire ten days ago and has not recovered sufficiently to resume playing. He will therefore miss the two Twenty20 games against Pakistan."

Selection chief Andrew Hilditch added: "It is unfortunate for Dan Christian that he's ruled out of this series through injury.

"James Hopes is being brought in to the Twenty20 squad and is an ideal replacement with the flexibility he gives us with both bat and ball," the former Australia batsman explained.

Christian began his career with New South Wales but was not offered a contract for the 2007/08 season and joined South Australia.

The 27-year-old has played three Twenty20 internationals but did not feature in the Australia side that lost the World Twenty20 final to England in Barbados in May.

Australia play Pakistan at Edgbaston in back-to-back Twenty20 internationals on July 5 and July 6 before they face each other in a two-Test series in England.