BGT: Massive Blow To Australia As Josh Hazlewood Ruled Out Of Pink-Ball Test
Star Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the upcoming Adelaide Test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after sustaining a side strain, as reported by ESPNcricinfo.
Sean Abbott and Brendan Doggett, both uncapped in Tests, have been added to the Australian squad for the second Test match. According to ESPNcricinfo, Scott Boland is likely to replace Hazlewood in the playing XI for the day-night Test.
In a statement quoted by ESPNcricinfo, Cricket Australia confirmed Hazlewood’s “low-grade left side injury,” adding that he would remain with the squad in Adelaide to recover.
Hazlewood, who made his Test debut in 2014 against India, has taken 278 wickets in 71 matches at an economy rate of 2.77. Against India, the 33-year-old has bagged 56 wickets in 16 Tests at an economy rate of 2.48.
First Test Recap
India won the toss and elected to bat in the first Test but managed only 150 runs. Nitish Kumar Reddy (41 off 59 balls, six fours, one six) and Rishabh Pant (37 off 78 balls, three fours, one six) added a crucial 48-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Josh Hazlewood was Australia’s standout bowler with figures of 4/29, while Pat Cummins, Mitchell Marsh, and Mitchell Starc took two wickets each.
Australia’s response was lackluster, collapsing to 79/9 before a late partnership between Mitchell Starc (26) and Alex Carey (21) took them to 104, conceding a 46-run lead. Jasprit Bumrah led India’s bowling with 5/30, while debutant Harshit Rana impressed with 3/48.
India dominated in their second innings. KL Rahul (77 off 176 balls, five fours) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (161 off 297 balls, 15 fours, three sixes) put on a 201-run opening stand. Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 100 (143 balls, eight fours, two sixes), supported by Washington Sundar (29 off 94 balls, one six) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (38* off 27 balls, three fours, two sixes), took India to 487/6 declared, setting Australia a target of 534.
Nathan Lyon (2/96) was Australia’s most effective bowler, with Cummins, Starc, and Hazlewood picking up a wicket each.
At stumps on Day 3, Australia were struggling at 12/3, with Bumrah taking two wickets and Mohammed Siraj one. On Day 4, valiant efforts from Travis Head (89 off 101 balls, eight fours) and Mitchell Marsh (47 off 67 balls, three fours, two sixes) weren’t enough as Australia were bowled out for 238, handing India a commanding 295-run victory.
Bumrah (3/42) and Siraj (3/51) starred in the second innings, with Washington Sundar taking two wickets and Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana contributing one each.
Stand-in skipper Jasprit Bumrah was named ‘Player of the Match’ for his eight wickets in the game.
Squads for Second Test
Australia Squad: Pat Cummins (C), Scott Boland, Alex Carey (WK), Sean Abbott, Brendan Doggett, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Nathan McSweeney, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.
India Squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Devdutt Padikkal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar.
