BGT Hazlewood Likely Ruled Out of Series After Scans Reveal Calf Strain

Josh Hazlewood is expected to sit out for the rest of the Test series against India following calf strain sustained while warming up on the fourth day in Brisbane meaning Scott Boland is set to be recalled into the side for the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.

Hazlewood, back in this game after missing Adelaide with a side strain, was late on to start play on Tuesday, after spending time talking to head coach Andrew McDonald and physio Nick Jones, and looked laboured when he came into the attack, barely topping 131kph which included a wide long hop first ball that was cut away by KL Rahul.

During the drinks break which followed that over, Hazlewood was part of a lengthy conversation with Pat Cummins, Steven Smith and the physio before he walked off the field.

Cricket Australia initially said he had "calf awareness" and he went for scans which confirmed the severity of the injury.

"He's pretty despondent," said Daniel Vettori, Australia's assistant coach. "Felt it this morning in warm-ups, gave it a good crack, it's just unfortunate for him to come back, put so much effort after another injury with the side strain, then to pick up a calf strain here, particularly in these circumstances is really tough on him."

Brendan Doggett and Sean Abbott have been in the squad in this series, where they were brought in as cover in Adelaide after Hazlewood's withdrawal, and would head the queue of replacements. Lance Morris and Jhye Richardson of Western Australia are still in the early stages of their comebacks to red ball cricket and the domestic season has now switched into BBL mode.

Australia were trying to force a victory between frequent rain delays in Brisbane with Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc putting in significant stints in the absence of Hazlewood but India's last-wicket stand between Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep denied them the chance of enforcing the follow on.

Vettori was of the opinion that not bowling a bowler that day would have been optioned and, considering there were lighter workloads there and regular rain breaks the concern was not so about the amount of overs coming into Starc and Cummins.

Hazlewood had come back into the side for this Test after a side strain had kept him out of Adelaide. His latest injury opens the door for Boland to return to the side at the MCG, the venue where he claimed a remarkable 6 for 7 on debut against England in 2021-22. Cummins had flagged the potential for Boland to play a further role in the series when he missed out in Brisbane.

"[We told him] it's about preparing for the MCG because there's a good chance we might need you," he said. "History suggests there's always some form of natural attrition throughout a Test series. A good thing [is], he's probably played a Test earlier in the series than he maybe thought. Showed that his standard's still super high. [It's] about trying to set him up for the last two Test matches."

While selection is out of Vettori's province, he admitted the call would probably be an easy one. "Fortunately I don't have to worry about that, but Boland speaks for himself," he said. "The way he bowled in Adelaide, the way he's consistently been the back-up seamer and every single time he's been asked to step up, particularly in Australia, he's been outstanding so think that would be the logical thing to conclude."

Hazlewood had earlier suffered a mild calf strain that ruled him out of the T20Is against Scotland and England. The Perth Test against India was his 10th successive match after a couple of frustrating years in which he was hit by a series of injuries while also being left out due to conditions on the subcontinent. In total, Hazlewood has missed 18 of Australia's last 35 Tests since the 2021-22 Ashes.

Hastings-born Hazlewood's next chance to play Tests will come in Sri Lanka late in January although conditions could render him surplus to requirements, if Australia pack their line-up with spinners. Then there is the opportunity of the World Test Championship final in early June, depending on whether Australia qualify to go ahead of a three-match tour of West Indies which is expected to start later that month.