New Delhi: Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood faces a crucial 24-hour period in his quest to make a comeback in the Australian playing X1 for the third Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Brisbane later this week. The 33-year-old fast bowler was ruled out of the Day-Night Test at the Adelaide Oval, which Australia won by 10 wickets, with a low-grade side strain. While he bowled at the ground earlier this morning as part of a detailed fitness Test, his availability depends on how he pulls up in the next 24 hours.
Hazlewood’s side strain: Injury details and recovery timeline
The Aussie quick looked in good rhythm, bowling a pair of lengthy spells in the morning but the recovery period in the next 24 hours will be pivotal in deciding his availability in the Brisbane Test.
“I think it’ll be how I pull up in the 24 hours following it really,” Hazlewood said after Monday’s bowling session.
Injury concerns mount for Hazlewood
Hazlewood has been struggling from injuries in the recent past. Between December 2021 and June 2023, he played just four Tests for Australia and missed crucial Ashes games as well as the World Test Championship final against India last year during this injury-hit phase.
Hazlewood said that his current injury is not that serious and that had it been the final Test of the summer, he would have forced himself to play in the Adelaide Test.
Hazlewood was the pick of the bowlers for Australia in the first Test at Perth, where India claimed a historic 295-run win to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. In his absence, Australia called up Scott Boland in the second Test at Adelaide and the Victorian pacer grabbed his chance by both hands, picking up 5 for 105 in the series-levelling win.
BGT: Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood faces a crucial 24-hour period to determine his availability for the third Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Brisbane. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
