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Australia made a comeback in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 with a dominating 10-wicket win in pink-ball Test. Despite the win within seven sessions, Scott Boland who took five wickets in the Test may warm the bench when the team reaches Brisbane. Josh Hazlewood who was ruled out of pink-ball Test due to side strain is expected to walk back into the playing XI. However, the next 24 hours will decide whether Hazlewood it match-ready or Boland will retain his place.
"I think it'll be how I pull up in the 24 hours following it really," Hazlewood told the reporters on December 9. "It’s just that repetitive (action) and obviously two spells makes a big difference. Cooling down pretty much fully and then going again in the same day, and the intensity has got to be right up there as well. So a few boxes to tick, but it's probably the 24 hours that follow and pulling up again the next day and then thinking 'yeah, I'd be right to go again if I had to'."
The last time India and Australia locked horns at The Gabba, Brisbane, Hazlewood bagged a five-wicket haul in the first innings. In India's run chase, he managed to take just one wicket as Rishabh Pant led India to victory with an unbeaten 89.
Hazlewood hopes to turn it around in Brisbane
Once a fortress for Australia, the hosts haven't done well in Brisbane of late. Earlier this year, they lost to West Indies in a closely-fought contest as young Shamar Joseph wreaked havoc.
“We always play pretty well in Brissy (but) the last Test was obviously pink ball," Hazlewood said. "The pink ball gets quite soft in Brisbane quite early on, with the wicket being quite hard, it doesn't have that thatch grass that we see here at Adelaide. So we're back to the red ball there, which I think suits us. We obviously haven't won recently up there, but it's a place we like to play."
The third Test of the series will begin on December 14. The early finish of the pink-ball Test has given the Indian team ample time to regroup.
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