New Delhi: Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood has returned to the Test side for the third match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India, confirmed team captain Pat Cummins on the sidelines of announcing the playing XI on eve of the match set to be played at The Gabba in Brisbane.
Hazlewood missed the second Test in Adelaide, which was played with the pink ball, after sustaining side strain. He was replaced by Victorian pacer Scott Boland, who mustered bowling figures of 2 for 54 and 3 for 51 as the hosts trounced India by 10 wickets to wrap the match within three days and level the series at 1-1.
Despite the decent show in the day-night Test, Boland won’t find a spot in the next match in a bid to make way for Hazlewood’s return. The New South Wales player was seen training at the Gabba on Thursday and Cummins said that he is fit to roll his arms in Brisbane.
“He’s (Josh Hazlewood) had no hiccups. He had a really good bowl yesterday, he had another bowl in Adelaide a couple of days previously. Him and the medical team are really confident,” Cummins told reporters on Friday, as quoted by Cricket.com.au.
This will be the only change by the Australians for the third Test with the rest of the team being the same.
Australia XI for 3rd Test vs India: Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitch Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
‘It’s a shame for Scotty’: Cummins on Boland’s exclusion
Boland wasn’t part of Australia’s playing XI in the Perth Test. He was only picked for the Adelaide match to fill in the shoes of the injured Hazlewood. The 35-year-old hasn’t been a regular for the Aussies, having played his first Test in Adelaide since June 2023. And it was his 11th Test appearance since his marvellous debut in the MCG Test of the 2021-22 Ashes, where he wreaked havoc against England’s abysmal batting order.
“It’s tough. He was fantastic in Adelaide. Unfortunately he’s spent quite a bit of time on the bench over the last 18 months and whenever he plays he’s fantastic,” said Cummins.
Cummins hinted that Boland could play another Test match in the last two games in Melbourne (December 26-30) and Sydney (January 3-7).
“It’s a shame for Scotty, but still a fair bit to play out this series. I’d be surprised if he didn’t play again in this series,” the Australian captain added.
Josh Hazlewood is back in Australia’s playing XI for the crucial third Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test against India in Brisbane. He has replaced Scott Boland, who impressed in Adelaide but will make way for the returning paceman. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
