IND vs AUS: Josh Hazlewood to miss India vs Australia 1st test in Nagpur: Days ahead to the start of the most-anticipated India vs Australia test series, the visitors faced a setback in the form of an injury to one of their key pacers, Josh Hazlewood. The Aussie pacer is yet to recover from his Achilles injury, which he suffered during Australia’s last test assignment against South Africa.
As per the reports, Hazlewood would miss the 1st India vs Australia test in Nagpur, while he is also a doubtful starter for the second test in Delhi. The pacer now joins his bowling partner Mitchell Starc (likely to miss 1st test due to a finger injury) and all-rounder Cameron Green (unlikely to bowl until the second test in Delhi due to a finger injury) in the casualty list.
Josh Hazlewood is also inactive in the pre-series camp in Bengaluru’s Alur, where the rest of his Australian teammates are preparing to tackle the Indian challenge.
“Not sure about the first Test. It’s still a few days away but it’s sneaking up pretty quickly. The second one is obviously straight after as well. So, we’ll play it by ear over the next week and next few days and hopefully Tuesday goes well,” Hazlewood was quoted as saying on Sunday by Cricbuzz.
“It’s still lingering from the (Sydney) Test match,” Hazlewood said of his injury.
Hazlewood’s absence on the test side will open the doors for Scott Boland’s overseas debut in Nagpur, during the 1st test. Boland, who had made his six-test appearance in Australia and scalped 28 wickets including a four-fer and a five-fer, will be partnered with skipper Pat Cummins. Meanwhile, uncapped pacer Lance Morris is another option for the Aussies to play against India.
Both Pat Cummins and Scott Boland took the new ball in the match-simulation drills held at Alur on the final day before the Aussies fly to Nagpur to give a finishing to their preparations for upcoming India vs Australia test series.
Shreyas Iyer, Jasprit Bumrah ruled out of 1st Test:
In the list of casualties from the Indian side, middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer is likely to be unavailable for the 1st test in Nagpur. Iyer is reeling from a back injury and is at the National Cricket Academy (NCA). He missed the three-game ODI series against New Zealand owing to his back injury.
Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah is also yet to completely prove his fitness and is ruled out of the 1st two tests against Australia. The pacer is also not named in India’s squad for the opening two tests.
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