Josh Hazlewood Ruled Out Of Pink Ball Test In Adelaide; Scott Boland In Line To Make Test Return – News18

Last Updated:November 30, 2024, 07:46 IST

Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Australia have been dealt a massive blow with Josh Hazlewood being ruled out for the 2nd Test against India in Adelaide.

Australia suffer a major setback ahead of the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar series with star pacer Josh Hazlewood being ruled out of the pink-ball game due to a side strain.

Australia has named two uncapped bowlers on their squad to cover for Hazlewood. Sean Abbot and Brendan Doggett make their way to the squad. In the starting 11, Scott Boland could be gearing up to make a return to Test cricket after playing his last Test in July 2023 in Adelaide.

Boland will also play for the Prime Minister’s XI against India where the two sides play a two-day game with the pink ball at the Canberra’s Manuka Oval. He will be up against the likes of Rohit Sharma and others from the Indian squad where he will look to prove himself.

Despite Australia’s experienced pace attack with skipper Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, Hazlewood’s loss will be massive as he was their best bowler in the opening game having picked up four wickets in the first innings and one in the second at a very economical rate.

According to a statement by Cricket Australia, it is a ‘low-grade left side injury’ which will also put his availability for the rest of the series in doubt. The last time India played a pink-ball Test in Australian soil, Hazlewood was the pick of the Aussie bowlers with India being bowled out for just 36 runs and the right-arm pacer finishing with figures of 5/8 in his five overs.

The team is set to come together in Adelaide on the weekend and added an extra day to prepare to come back stronger after the crushing 295-run defeat to India in Perth for the series opener.

The second Test will be a day-night affair being played at the Adelaide Oval from December 6-10. While the Aussies will look to replace Hazlewood, India will receive a massive boost with the return of Rohit Sharma and possibly Shubman Gill to strengthen their batting.

Australia will be put to the Test as they hope to end their long-standing losing streak against India in the iconic series where the Aussies have not won for almost the last decade.