Josh Hazlewood has returned to Australia 11 for the upcoming third test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy. Scott Boland makes the way for Hazlewood despite picking five wickets in the second match of the series.
Josh Hazlewood was forced to sit out of the Pink-ball test in Adelaide last week due to a side strain injury. Australia captain Pat Cummins confirmed on Friday that Pacer will return to the side at The Gabba.
“He had a really good bowl yesterday, he had another bowl in Adelaide a couple of days previously. Him and the medical team are really confident,” Cummins said on the eve of the game.
Cummins said that he had to tak ball away from Hazlewood at Perth to prevent his injury getting worse.
“We’ve seen it a few times where Josh has pushed through to get through a Test match and a little bit of soreness turns into a month or two of injury.
JUST IN: Josh Hazlewood is back for the Gabba Test! #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/ikV3L6JAU6
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 13, 2024
“So, we made the call then that it probably wasn’t worth the risk of keeping him bowling. I think he bowled an extra two overs leading into tea break and he said it felt ok, but I just kind of thought from there, ‘that’s enough’,” said Cummins.
He also spoke about Boland after the veteran pacer made stirring return to Test cricket at Adelaide after last year’s Ashes.
Boland had a five wicket haul including Virat Kohli, Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill across the second test.
“It’s tough. He was fantastic in Adelaide. Unfortunately, he’s spent quite a bit of time on the bench over the last 18 months and whenever he plays he’s fantastic.
“It’s a shame for Scotty, but still a fair bit to play out this series. I’d be surprised if he didn’t play again in this series,” said the New South Wales player.
The defeat in the Pink-ball test has moved India to third position in the WTC points table. Meanwhile Australia has secured scond place in WTC standings.
The third match of the Australia-India tests will begin on December 14 at The Gabba.
