Australia’s hopes of maintaining their momentum in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy have been significantly dampened by the likely absence of veteran fast bowler Josh Hazlewood for the remainder of the series. Hazlewood sustained a calf strain during a warm-up on the fourth day of the third Test at the Gabba in Brisbane. Subsequent scans confirmed the severity of the injury, leaving the Australian team without one of their key pacers for the foreseeable future.
Hazlewood had just made his return to the playing XI after missing the second Test in Adelaide due to a side strain. The decision to bring him back into the side now appears to have backfired, as Hazlewood could bowl only one over on Day 4 before limping off the field. He had already delivered a crucial breakthrough by dismissing Virat Kohli on Day 3, but by the morning of Day 4, it was clear that the pacer was struggling.
Cricket Australia issued a statement confirming the injury: “Josh Hazlewood has sustained a right-sided calf strain, which will prevent him from playing any further part in the Test match against India in Brisbane. He sustained the injury during the warm-up this morning and, after bowling one over, was unable to continue. He is likely to miss the remainder of the Test series. A squad replacement will be made in due course.”
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Hazlewood’s absence opens the door for Scott Boland to make his return for the Boxing Day Test at the MCG. Boland had stepped up admirably during Hazlewood’s absence in the pink-ball Test and became a hero during the 2021-22 Ashes, where he claimed a stunning 6 for 7 on debut at the same venue.
Josh Hazlewood appears set to miss the rest of the #AUSvIND Test series: https://t.co/c4KzFBMBCI pic.twitter.com/vEC6Qe6gWs
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 17, 2024
“He’s pretty flat, But we’ll get around him, put our arm around him and show a bit of care and love for the big fella.” 🏏
🇦🇺 Nathan Lyon speaks of Josh Hazlewood’s injury as Australia miss the chance to enforce a follow on.
Grandstand at Stumps https://t.co/BwsSI40sYy #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/PDmK3addAO
— ABC SPORT (@abcsport) December 17, 2024
Australia’s captain, Pat Cummins, had already hinted at Boland’s possible return, noting, “We’ve told him to prepare for the MCG because there’s a good chance we might need him. There’s always natural attrition in a Test series, and he showed earlier in the series that his standards are still super high.”
Brendan Doggett and Sean Abbott are also in contention as potential replacements, but the onus will primarily fall on Cummins and Mitchell Starc to lead the pace attack, with support from Nathan Lyon’s spin and part-time bowlers Mitchell Marsh and Marnus Labuschagne.
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Since the 2021-22 Ashes, Hazlewood has been sidelined for 18 of Australia’s last 35 Tests due to recurring injuries, particularly calf and side strains. His latest setback has been a source of frustration, as he had hoped to put his injury woes behind him. With Australia’s push for victory now heavily reliant on Cummins and Starc, Hazlewood’s absence is a significant blow to the team’s prospects in the ongoing series.
