Australia pacer Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the ongoing third Test at The Gabba, Brisbane and the remainder of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Hazlewood sustained a an injury in his right calf during warm-up before the start of play on Day 4. He bowled one over before leaving the field and was taken for scans.
"A squad replacement will be made in due course," said a CA spokesperson.
In Hazlewood's absence, Australia have a depleted bowling attack in the rain-hit Gabba Test which may end in a draw.
On Day 3, Hazlewood bowled just six overs. His only wicket of the Test was Virat Kohli. Hazlewood honed in on the line outside off stump and Kohli edged one to Alex Carey trying to push the ball through covers.
Hazlewood missed the pink-ball Test at Adelaide Oval as well. Scott Boland replaced him and picked up crucial wickets. After clearing fitness test, Hazlewood took his place as Boland warmed the benches. Earlier, in the first Test at Perth Stadium, he claimed five wickets including a four-wicket haul.
If not Boland, then who can replace Hazlewood?
Sean Abbott and Brendan Doggett are already there in the Test squad as injury covers. If not Boland, then Doggett may get to make his Test debut in The Boxing Day Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
The 30-year-old was sensational in his only appearance for Australia A against India A. He took seven wickets including six wickets for 15 runs in the first innings. His prominent wickets in the first innings were Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Ishan Kishan and Nitish Kumar Reddy. He picked a five-wicket haul in his previous Sheffield Shield appearance for South Australia as well.
Australia's updated Test squad -
Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Brendan Doggett, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Nathan McSweeney, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster
