Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the second Test in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The 33-year-old pacer suffered a side strain after the first Test in Perth.
He was Australia’s best bowler on display in their 295-run defeat. He returned with figures of 4/29 in the first innings before giving away only 28 runs in 21 overs in the second innings when the Indian batters made merry and the other bowlers travelled.
Cricket Australia released a statement which outlined the injury as a ‘low grade left side injury’. Moreover, his participation in the remainder of the series is uncertain.
Sean Abbott and Brendan Doggett have been added to Australia’s squad for the pink-ball Test in Adelaide. Both bowlers have impressed in the ongoing Sheffield Shield season. Abbott has taken 13 wickets in two games that he has played and averages 19.84. Doggett has picked up 13 scalps in three matches. The latter played one game against India ‘A’ at Mackay and returned with figures of 6/15 & 1/43 in the two innings. Both of them are yet to make their Test debuts but they’ve been a part of the Test setup before.
Scott Boland likely to replace Hazlewood
It is likely that both these pacers will act as backups. Scott Boland is expected to slot in place of Hazlewood for the day-night Test. The Victoria fast bowler has played two day-night Tests and has taken seven wickets. His last Test appearance was at Leeds, Headingley in the 2023 Ashes. He had a disappointing run in that series as he took just two wickets in two Tests in the series.
However, Boland did play the World Test Championship (WTC) final against India at The Oval where he returned with figures of 2/59 and 3/46. He also has great numbers at home – 28 wickets in six Tests at a jaw-dropping average of 12.21. He is a part of the Prime Minister’s XI who face India in a two-day warm-up game in Canberra.
Despite Boland’s impressive returns, Australia will miss Hazlewood. He was the wrecker-in-chief when Australia last faced India in a pink-ball Test in Adelaide. He took five wickets for eight runs as India were shot out for 36. His numbers at Adelaide are superb as well – 41 wickets at an average of 16.82. Plus, he has 37 wickets in eight day-night Tests at an average of 18.86.
Australia are expected to land in Adelaide over the weekend and their practice sessions will begin on Monday. The second Test is scheduled to start on the 6th of December. They have never lost a day-night Test in Adelaide and the Pat Cummins-led side will want to bounce back to level the series.
