New Delhi. Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the second Test against India due to a side strain. Sean Abbott and Brendan Doggett, who are both uncapped at Test level, have been included in Australia’s squad, although Scott Boland could replace Hazlewood in the XI for the day-night Test.
A statement from Cricket Australia (CA) said Hazlewood has a “mild left side injury” and will remain with the team in Adelaide for his recovery. Hazlewood was Australia’s best bowler in Perth with 57 runs in 34 overs. Took 5 wickets. This will be the first Test Hazlewood has missed since Headingley in the Ashes last year. He sustained a series of injuries in last year’s Ashes – including two side strains – while he was also sidelined by conditions on various subcontinental tours. He played only four Tests between December 2021 and June 2023.
If Boland returns, as expected, it will be his first Test since replacing Hazlewood in the Ashes game at Leeds. His record at home is excellent, having taken 28 wickets in six matches at an average of 12.21.
Last season, Australia won all seven Test matches against Pakistan, West Indies and New Zealand with an unchanged bowling attack and last week in the Perth Test, Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc bowled together for the 10th consecutive Test. Did.
Abbott, who played regularly in Australia’s white-ball teams, is often considered unlucky not to receive a Test cap. Meanwhile, this is a great opportunity for Doggett to return to the national team, as he was selected for the series against Pakistan in the UAE in 2018. Earlier, he had taken 6 wickets for 15 runs for Australia A against India A in Mackay, although he was not included in the team due to injury.
Michael Neser, who was a strong possibility for inclusion in the squad, suffered a hamstring injury in Australia A’s second match at the MCG and is unlikely to be fit for the start of the BBL. Western Australia pair Jhye Richardson and Lance Morris, both centrally contracted, recently returned to Sheffield Shield cricket for the first time this season.
Australia’s selectors previously included uncapped all-rounder Beau Webster in the squad after Mitchell Marsh was injured. Josh Inglis, who was originally selected as the extra batsman, remains in the squad, but if Marsh is not available for Adelaide, Webster could replace him in the squad.
Hazlewood’s departure adds to the uncertainty for Australia as he returns to the side for the second Test after a crushing 295-run defeat in Perth.
There are question marks over the batting line-up, with Marnus Labuschagne under the most pressure after his two failures in Perth, including 2 runs off 52 balls in the first innings.
Australia will begin training in Adelaide on Monday, a day earlier than originally scheduled. India are scheduled to play a two-day match against the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra on Saturday and Sunday, although this is doubtful due to heavy rain. Boland is part of the Prime Minister’s XI squad, having played only two first-class matches this season.
