Due to a back injury, the Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out from the upcoming two-match home Test series against Sri Lanka, starting from 24 January. The 22-year-old young pacer and uncapped Test player Jhye Richardson has replaced Hazlewood for the upcoming Test series.
The 28-year-old right-arm pacer Josh Hazlewood, who has taken 164 wickets in 44 Tests, has recently reported the back injury while the scans reports have revealed that his last season’s back injury has returned.
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Cricket Australia (CA) physiotherapist David Beakley said in a statement, “Josh has reported some back soreness over the last few days and scans have revealed a very early stage stress fracture in the same lower back area as his previous injury from last summer.”
However, CA is confident to get the full fit Hazlewood prior to the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup in England & Wales, starting on 30 May.
Beakley added, “He will now begin a rehabilitation program and we are confident he will be available for selection ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup in the UK later this year.”
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It means that the Australian team will now have to select a new Test vice-captain as both the Test vice-captains, Mitchell Marsh and Josh Hazlewood are going to miss the upcoming home Test series.
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On the other hand, the young right-arm pacer Richardson made his international cricket debut on 19 February 2017 during the Geelong T20I against Sri Lanka. His ODI debut was in last year during the Brisbane ODI against England on 19 January 2018. The Western Australian pacer has played seven ODIs and seven T20Is and he is now focusing for the Test debut.
In the recently concluded three-match home ODI series against the visiting side India, Richardson (6 wickets) finished as the leading wicket-taker for his side.
The national selector, Trevor Hohns said, “Jhye has had an impressive first half in his Sheffield Shield season and no-one could deny he has now continued that form in ODI matches for Australia.”
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In the meantime, Richardson is excited to make his Test debut and that too in the first game of the two-match home Test series against Sri Lanka. While the first Test will be a day/night Test with the pink ball, the young pacer is feeling more excited.
He said, “I have loved the pink ball. Obviously, as a group I don’t think Australia has lost a pink-ball Test, and luckily enough for myself, I probably had one of my better games when I played at the WACA under lights.
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“I am really looking forward to it. It’s going to be fantastic. The prospect of a pink ball in a Test again is great. We have seen in that twilight period the ball moves around a little bit more which is really exciting. I definitely like to swing the ball early which will be the plan if I do get to play.”
