- Josh Hazlewood suffered a calf strain on Tuesday
- The Aussie quick had returned from a side strain this week
- His absence could open the door again for Scott Boland
Josh Hazlewood’s summer Test series could be over after the Aussie pace bowler pulled up with a sore calf on the fourth morning of the Brisbane Test.
The 33-year-old quick had overcome a side strain heading into this week’s clash against India at the Gabba.
But on Tuesday, Cricket Australia confirmed that Hazlewood, who has taken 278 wickets in 71 Tests, had undergone scans that confirmed that he had suffered a strain in his right calf.
The governing body adds that Hazlewood, who struggled through an over before the first drinks break, is ‘all but certain to miss the remainder of the series.’
A spokesperson for Cricket Australia added: ‘A squad replacement will be made in due course.’
Scott Boland stepped up in Hazlewood’s place to feature in the Adelaide Test, is now back in the frame to play in Melbourne. The Victoria quick took five wickets at the Adelaide Oval last week.
Already having overcome a side strain in order to face India at the Gabba, Hazlewood felt soreness in his calf on Tuesday morning. Cricket Australia claims that Hazlewood had not shown signs of any injury on Tuesday, with the 33-year-old dismissing Virat Kohli.
Team medical staff say Hazlewood first experienced “awareness” in the calf while warming up for day four, prompting him to stay off the field for the start of play.
The seamer was notably down on pace during his only spell of the day, with his first delivery an uncharacteristic long-hop that KL Rahul dispatched to the point boundary.
When drinks were taken Hazlewood was in deep discussion with captain Pat Cummins, Steve Smith and Australia’s team physio, before leaving the field.
The Aussies have lost Josh Hazlewood to injury from their attack in the Brisbane Test
Scott Boland looms as Hazlewood’s replacement for the Boxing Day Test if the seamer is not able to recover in time
Any injury to Hazlewood could have serious ramifications for the rest of the series.
Australia are eying off the chance to enforce the follow on against India in Brisbane, with rain having taken a significant portion out of the game.
That is likely to leave Mitch Marsh needing to bowl more overs than expected, after having battled his own injury issues this summer.
While Boland appears the immediate option to replace Hazlewood, any strain on the workload of Cummins, Mitchell Starc or Marsh could prompt Australia to have to blood a debutant, with Sean Abbott, Brendan Doggett and Beau Webster all part of extended squads this summer.
A week-long gap is scheduled between the Brisbane and Melbourne Tests, with only three days separating the end at the MCG and start in Sydney.
Hazlewood has battled side strain issues in the past, with similar injuries largely responsible for him playing only three Tests between the end of January 2021 and start of June 2023.
The quick had bowled five overs on Monday for Australia without issue, before Tuesday’s concern.
