Australia's quest to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has encountered another setback with Josh Hazlewood being ruled out of the second Test due to a side strain. Already concerned about Mitch Marsh's fitness, Australia faced another challenge on Saturday when medical staff sidelined Hazlewood for the day-night Test in Adelaide due to a sore left side. The injury is not considered serious, and Hazlewood will stay with the Test squad ahead of the third Test in Brisbane.
Scott Boland is the most likely candidate to replace Hazlewood in Adelaide on Friday, while Sean Abbott and Brendan Doggett have been added to the Test squad as reinforcements. Hazlewood's injury is the last thing Australia needed as they aim to recover from a 1-0 deficit and win a five-Test series for the first time since 1997. Hazlewood was Australia's top bowler in Perth, claiming the crucial wicket of Virat Kohli in the first innings and finishing with four for 29. However, he may be paying the price for Australia's extended time in the field during the second innings, where he bowled 21 overs as India batted for five sessions.
The 33-year-old has had a history of injuries leading up to the 2023 Ashes, with side injuries limiting him to just four Tests in two years. Despite this, he has mostly remained injury-free since then, with only a minor calf strain keeping him out of white-ball matches earlier this year. Hazlewood's absence is likely to pave the way for Boland's first Test since last year's Ashes, where England targeted the Victorian seamer.
Boland himself has only played two first-class matches this summer after recovering from a foot injury. The 35-year-old is also part of the Prime Minister's XI side facing India this weekend at a rain-soaked Manuka Oval. Beyond Adelaide, the door is open for Abbott or Doggett to make their debut in Brisbane, given the brief three-day gap between the next two Tests. If Hazlewood does not recover in time, one of the pair could step in if any of the three quicks face a heavy workload throughout the summer.
Doggett's rise is particularly noteworthy, as he was only recently called up to the Australia A side to face India A, before taking six for 15 against the tourists in Mackay. The 30-year-old has previously been part of Australia's squad for a Test series against Pakistan in the UAE in 2018 but did not play. Abbott has consistently been on the fringes of Australia's Test side but is yet to secure a baggy green. He has taken 13 wickets at an average of 19.84 for NSW this summer in the Shield and did not participate in the A series due to impending Australian white-ball commitments.
Hazlewood's injury comes as Australia continues to monitor Mitch Marsh and his sore ankle, having called Beau Webster into the squad as cover on Thursday. Even if Marsh plays in Adelaide, Webster could still debut in Brisbane due to the short turnaround and concerns over Marsh's fitness.
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