Pacer Scott Boland is set to replace injured Josh Hazlewood in the second test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.
Adelaide Oval will host the game and it will be a day-night test match with the pink ball. Hazlewood is ruled out after a side-strain ahead of the second test. It’s still not clear whether or not he will play in the remainder of the series.
Hazlewood has been a key bowler for Australia in tests. His record in 2024 is phenomenal; 34 wickets in 6 test matches at an average of 13.35 including two 5-wicket hauls. Australia will miss him badly in the second test.
He picked up 5 wickets in the first test at Perth. Australian captain Pat Cummins has confirmed that Scott Boland will replace Hazlewood in the second test at Adelaide.
Boland has a good record in his short test career so far. He has picked up 35 wickets in 10 games at an average of 20.34 including one 5-fer.
Scott Boland played against India in WTC 2023 Final
Scott Boland had replaced Josh Hazelwood in the ICC WTC 2023 Final at Headingley. He picked up 5 wickets in that game. Boland has a strong record at home. He has picked up 28 wickets in 6 innings at an average of 12.21. It includes his memorable 6-fer against England at the MCG during the 2021-22 Ashes.
Pat Cummins confirmed that there is no change in the Australian line-up except Boland in for Hazlewood. Indian skipper Rohit Sharma also confirmed that KL Rahul will open alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal in the pink ball test. Rohit will move down to the middle order.
Rahul scored 26 and 77 in the two innings at Perth. His 201-run partnership with Jaiswal in the 2nd innings laid the foundation of India’s 295-run victory against the Aussies.
Australia’s playing XI for 2nd BGT test: Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
