Aussie pace bowler ‘likely to miss’ the remainder of the Border-Gavaskar Series vs India after pulling up with a calf injury during Brisbane Test
- Josh Hazlewood suffered a calf problem on Tuesday
- The Aussie Quick had returned from a side strain this week
- His absence could open the door for Scott Boland again
Josh Hazlewood’s summer Test series could be over after the Australian pace bowler retired with a sore calf on the fourth morning of the Brisbane Test.
The 33-year-old quick had overcome a side pressure ahead of this week’s match against India at the Gabba.
But on Tuesday, Cricket Australia confirmed that Hazlewood, who has taken 278 wickets in 71 Tests, had undergone scans which confirmed he had suffered a strain in his right calf.
The governing body added that Hazlewood, who struggled through an over before the first drinks break, ‘will almost certainly miss the rest of the series.’
A Cricket Australia spokesperson added: “A squad replacement will take place in due course.”
Scott Boland stepped up in place of Hazlewood to take part in the Adelaide Test and is now back in the picture to play in Melbourne. The Victoria Quick took five wickets at the Adelaide Oval last week.
The Aussies have lost Josh Hazlewood to injury during their attack in the Brisbane Test
Scott Boland is in danger as Hazlewood’s replacement for the Boxing Day Test if the seamer cannot recover in time
Having already overcome a side strain to face India at the Gabba, Hazlewood felt pain in his calf on Tuesday morning.
Cricket Australia claimed Hazlewood had shown no signs of any injury on Tuesday, with the 33-year-old dismissing Virat Kohli.
The 33-year-old had suffered an injury to his right calf during the white-ball tour of Great Britain in August.
The team’s medical staff says Hazlewood first experienced “consciousness” in the calf during warm-ups for day four, prompting him to stay off the field for the start of the game.
The seamer was noticeably slow in his only spell of the day, with his first delivery an uncharacteristic long hop that sent KL Rahul to the point boundary.
As drinks were consumed, Hazlewood was in deep discussion with captain Pat Cummins, Steve Smith and the Australian team physio before leaving the field.
Any injury to Hazlewood could have serious consequences for the rest of the series.
Australia seized the opportunity to force the sequel against India in Brisbane, with rain taking a significant part out of the match.
As drinks were consumed, Hazlewood was in deep discussion with several teammates and the Australian physio before leaving the field.
The 33-year-old had suffered an injury to his right calf during the white-ball tour of Great Britain in August.
That will likely see Mitch Marsh bowl more overs than expected after battling his own injury problems this summer.
While Boland appears the immediate option to replace Hazlewood, any pressure on the workload of Cummins, Mitchell Starc or Marsh could see Australia bleeding a debutant, with Sean Abbott, Brendan Doggett and Beau Webster all part of extended squads this summer selections.
A week’s gap is planned between the Brisbane and Melbourne tests, with just three days between the end at the MCG and the start in Sydney.
Hazlewood has suffered from side strain problems in the past, with similar injuries largely preventing him from playing just three Tests between late January 2021 and early June 2023.
The Quick had bowled five overs for Australia without any problems on Monday, before Tuesday’s concerns.