The 33-year-old pacer Josh Hazlewood is set to miss the remaining series of the ongoing AUS-IND tests after suffering a calf strain during warm-ups on the fourth day of the Brisbane tests.
As a result, Scott Boland will be returning to the squad for the Boxing Day test at MCG. Hazlewood was late entering the field at the start of play on Tuesday, was seen discussing the matter with Pat Cummins, Steven Smith and Physio Nick Jones before walking out of the field.
“Josh Hazlewood has sustained a right sided calf strain which will prevent him from playing any further part in Test match against India in Brisbane,” an further CA statement said.
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 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.”
Josh Hazlewood has returned to the squad after being ruled out of Adelaide test. His latest injury opens the door for Boland to return to the side at the MCG.
Cummins had flagged the potential for Boland to play a further role in the series when he missed out in Brisbane.
“[We told him] it’s about preparing for the MCG because there’s a good chance we might need you,” he said.
“History suggests there’s always some form of natural attrition throughout a Test series. A good thing [is], he’s probably played a Test earlier in the series than he maybe thought. Showed that his standard’s still super high. [It’s] about trying to set him up for the last two Test matches.”
Speaking between the Adelaide and Brisbane tests, Hazlewood said the side problem had been a frustrating injury and the medical staff were still trying to come up with a long term solution.
“It’s not necessarily your typical side strain, which I’ve had a couple in my career,” he said.
“You’re running into bowl and you just grab your hat and you’re off and you’re out for six weeks. It’s not that sort of side strain.”
“It’s from sort of repetitive use. It’s caused me a lot of trouble over the last few years, but [had] perfect prep this year, and played the Shield game and ticked all that off.”
“I was very happy where I was and it still happened. So I was pretty annoyed there for a few days. There was plenty of meetings from CA’s point of view [with] physios, doctors, all that stuff. So come up with a few options and see if we can stop it from happening again.”
Fine knocks from KL Rahul and Jadeja has reduced the gap between the totals with India scoring 252 runs by the end of day 04. India trails the match by 193 runs at Gabba.
