Australia have suffered a big injury blow even before the start of the four-match Test series against India. India and Australia will renew their rivalry in the longest format of the game next week when the much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Test series gets underway in Nagpur. Australia, however, will miss the services of their star pacer Josh Hazlewood.
The right-arm fast-bowler has been ruled out of at least the first Test against India. The pacer, on Sunday, confirmed that he will not be available for the series-opener due to a left Achilles niggle that he sustained during the SCG Test against against South Africa last month.
He, however, will be in contention to play the second Test although he would be in a race against time to be fit for the clash. Josh Hazlewood now joins Mitchell Starc on the sidelines. Starc will also miss the first Test in Nagpur owing to a finger injury.
With Josh Hazlewood and Starc out of the contest, Scott Boland could get a chance to play in the first Test against India. Speaking to Cricket.com.au, Josh Hazlewood backed Boland to perform well if he gets the nod for the first game.
“Scotty has bowled plenty at the MCG when it was a flat wicket, it probably wasn’t swinging or reverse swinging so he knows how to work hard for a long period of time,” Hazlewood said of the Victorian with a Test bowling average of 12.21.
“You’ve got Lance Morris who has worked hard on reverse swing for the last month and then a nice lead-in here with a few sessions. The guys are excited first of all to play in the subcontinent, they both haven’t yet, but they’re very well qualified to do so,” he added.
Josh Hazlewood on his injury:
Speaking further, Josh Hazlewood opened up about his injury and said that he has had the issue from the SCG Test last month. The star bowler revealed that it was caused by damp pitches in Sydney.
“It’s still lingering from the (Sydney) Test match,” Hazlewood said of his injury.
“We obviously bowled after a lot of rain and the jump-offs were quite soft where we were taking off from, and they ended up replacing them as well.
It sort of worked to a degree, but just that extra load jumping off a soft ground to bowl and again first Test match (back from injury) your body is not used to that sort of workload as well.
“I was bowling a fair bit leading into the (India) tour at home and sort of just pushing up against it. It probably wasn’t recovering as well as I would have liked between each session.
“So thought we’d give it a few days here straight of the bat and try and get over the hump and have a bowl from Tuesday and hope it goes well,” he added.
Meanwhile, Australia will be desperate to do well in the upcoming series as they seek to improve their recent records against India in Tests. Australia have lost the last three series against India including two at home. They have also not won in India since the 2004/05 season.