The 26-year-old had earned his maiden national call-up for an ICC event when Australia announced the squad for the Champions Trophy.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Now, with a potential Champions Trophy opportunity on the horizon, Australia suffered a major setback when Mitchell Marsh was ruled out of the tournament due to a back complaint.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Speaking after the Galle Test, head coach Andrew McDonald said Australia would look to maintain an eight-batter team and identified Hardie, along with Marcus Stoinis and Beau Webster, as potential replacements for Marsh\u2019s role.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
While the final decision on Marsh's replacement is yet to be made, Hardie remains optimistic about his chances, particularly given his ability to slot into multiple roles.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"I have been training and speaking to the coaches and putting things in place to be as flexible as possible. Whether one game you bat (No.) 3 and one game you bat 7, there are not many people who can go out there and do that. So rather than pigeonholing into a certain position, (I am) just trying to stay as flexible as possible,\" Hardie was quoted by news.com.au as saying.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"It helps in team balance if someone goes down or someone\u2019s not available for a certain tour to be able to jump into any position and be able to help win games,\" he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
If selected for the final Champions Trophy squad, Hardie expects his primary role to be batting in the lower middle order (No. 5-7) while offering crucial overs as a fifth-bowling option.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"I think if I get a role in those games, it\u2019s going to be being able to contribute with the ball in terms of being that fifth bowling option. Whether it\u2019s a spinner and myself being able to fill a 10-over role to be able to make up that fifth bowler. I bat up the order at home, but I think having that ability to come in at seven and eight and contribute with the bat is really important,\" he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Teams have time until February 12 to submit their final squads of 15 for the tournament to the ICC.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Australia will begin their Champions Trophy campaign against England on February 22 at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Teams have time until February 12 to submit their final squads of 15 for the tournament to the ICC.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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