Josh Hazelwood Ruled Out Of Second Test Against India
The Australian pacer Josh Hazelwood has been ruled out of the second Test against India in Adelaide from December 6 due to a side strain. Cricket Australia has added Sean Abbott and Brendan Doggett, two uncapped players have been added to squad although Scott Boland will be Hazelwood’s replacement in the day-night Test at the Adelaide Oval.
His absence from the team in the second Test is a big setback for the hosts as India is ahead with a 0-1 after a historic 295 run victory against them at the Optus Stadium in Perth at the first Test. He took 4 wickets in the first Test giving away 29 runs and took 1 wicket in the second Test giving away 28 runs.
Hazelwood played a very key role in India’s embarrassing 36 all out on their last tour of Australia, taking 5 for 8 in that day-night Test.
Cricket Australia said,
“This will be Hazelwood’s first absence from a home Test against India. With this, for the first time since the Sydney Test of 2015, Australia will be without one of the four stalwarts - Hazelwood, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Nathan Lyon - in a home BGT match. The quartet featured together in nine successive home Tests vs India."
Australia will start their training in Adelaide one day earlier than planned on Monday. Although heavy rain has put that in doubt, India is expected to play against the Prime Minister's XI in Canberra on Saturday and Sunday. Boland has played only two first-class games in this season, is in the PM's XI squad and hopes to get some overs.