Josh Hazlewood has been officially ruled out of the upcoming second Test against India, scheduled to take place from December 6-10 at the Adelaide Oval.
This decision comes after Hazlewood sustained a low-grade left side injury, which will prevent him from participating in the day-night match.
Despite this setback, he will remain with the team in Adelaide to continue his recovery and prepare for the remainder of the series.
Australia Squad Changes
In light of Hazlewood’s absence, Cricket Australia has called up two uncapped fast bowlers, Sean Abbott and Brendan Doggett, to join the squad.
Abbott, who has previously played 26 One Day Internationals and 20 T20 Internationals, has been a regular in Australia’s white-ball setup but is yet to make his Test debut.
He brings a wealth of experience with a record of 261 wickets across 87 first-class matches.
Doggett, also uncapped at the Test level, has made a strong case for selection following a standout performance where he took 6 wickets for just 15 runs against India A.
He has previously been part of the Australian Test squad but did not play in his previous call-up during the 2018 series against Pakistan.
Impact of Hazlewood’s Injury
Hazlewood’s absence is particularly significant given his performance in the first Test, where he was Australia’s leading bowler with figures of 5 for 57.
This marks the first time in over ten years that he will miss a home Test against India, highlighting his pivotal role in Australia’s bowling attack.
His injury adds pressure on the Australian team, which is already trailing 0-1 in the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy following a heavy defeat by 295 runs in the first Test at Optus Stadium.
Likely Replacement
Scott Boland is expected to step into Hazlewood’s role in the playing XI. Boland last played a Test match in July 2023 and has an impressive home record, taking 28 wickets at an average of just over 12 in six matches.
His inclusion would bolster Australia’s pace attack as they seek to bounce back from their opening loss against India.
The second Test will be crucial for Australia as they aim to level the series. Following this match, the schedule includes further Tests at The Gabba and MCG before concluding at SCG in early January.
