Josh Hazlewood ruled out of Australia’s first Test against India through injury
The fast bowler picked up the niggle on his left leg during January’s Sydney Test and has not actively participated in Australia’s pre-series training camp in Alur.
Hazlewood will also be racing the clock to be fit in time for the second Test, which is scheduled to take place just three days after the first.
The 32-year-old’s injury means the visitors are without three key bowlers for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series opener, with Mitchell Starc and Cameron Green yet to recover from finger injuries.
Scott Boland is now in line to make his overseas Test debut, with Lance Morris set to be next on deck.
Speaking in India, the experienced paceman backed his likely replacement.
“Scotty (Boland) has bowled plenty at the MCG when it was a flat wicket, it probably wasn’t swinging or reverse swinging so he knows how to work hard for a long period of time,” Hazlewood said, per cricket.com.au.
“You’ve got Lance Morris who has worked hard on reverse swing for the last month and then a nice lead-in here with a few sessions.
“The guys are excited first of all to play in the subcontinent, they both haven’t yet, but they’re very well qualified to do so.”
The first Test will begin on February 9 in Nagpur, India.
