It is learned that Josh Hazlewood is unlikely to feature in the remainder of the India Test series. This comes after Hazlewood suffered a calf strain on the fourth day of the Brisbane Test.
Cricket Australia confirmed in a statement that the Australian pacer will not be available for the remainder of the ongoing Gabba Test.
In this Test match, Hazlewood bowled only six overs in the first innings and only on December 17, the fourth day of the test. He hurt his calf in the training session. On the fourth day, he appeared to move gingerly and bowled only one over. He was also down on his bowling speeds as well. Scans show that he has strained his right calf.
In a statement, CA said, “He is likely to miss the remainder of the Test series. A squad replacement will be made in due course.”
This is the latest development in the growing injury concerns for Hazlewood. He also missed the pink-ball test due to a recurrence of a side injury that forced him to be sidelined over a couple of years. Due to that injury, he missed out on key Ashes games as well as the World Test Championship against India last year.
Before being included in the playing XI in the third test, he was subject to a fitness test. On December 9, he passed the fitness test and was cleared for the Brisbane Test by medical experts.
Now that he is once again being on the sidelines, Scott Boland is the likely candidate to replace him in the next two matches. Scott was part of the pink ball test in Adelaide and returned with 5 for 105.