A cricket Australia statement said Hazlewood had a “low-grade injury to his left side” and would remain with the team in Adelaide to work on his recovery.
Hazlewood was the pick of Australia’s bowlers in Perth with 5 for 57 in 34 overs. This will be the first Test Hazlewood has missed since Headingley in last year’s Ashes, which followed a period in which he suffered a series of frustrating injuries, including two side strains, while he was also omitted due to conditions on several tours. across the subcontinent. Between December 2021 and June 2023 he participated in only four tests.
If, as expected, Boland returned to the team it would be his first test since replacing Hazlewood in that Ashes game at Leeds. He has an impressive record at home with 28 wickets at 12.21 in six matches.
Last season against Pakistan, the West Indies and New Zealand, Australia came through all seven Tests with an unchanged attack and last week’s Perth Test marked the 10th consecutive outing in which Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc lined out together .
Michael Neser would have been a strong candidate for a call-up but he suffered a hamstring injury in Australia A’s second match at the MCG and is unlikely to be fit until the start of the BBL.
West Australian duo Jhye Richardson and Lance Morris, both centrally contracted, recently returned to Sheffield Shield cricket for the first time this season.
The loss of Hazlewood adds to the uncertainty surrounding Australia ahead of the second Test after their 295-run thrashing in Perth. There are question marks over the batting line-up, with Marnus Labuschagne under the most pressure after his two failures in Perth, including 2 off 52 balls in the first innings.
Australia will begin training in Adelaide on Monday, a day earlier than initially planned. India are due to play a two-day match against the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra on Saturday and Sunday, although heavy rain has put this in doubt. Boland is part of the Prime Minister’s XI looking to get some overs under his belt having played just two first-class matches this season.
