New Delhi: Australia are fortunate to have a bowler of the calibre of Scott Boland to replace the injured Josh Hazlewood, as absence of such a key pacer could make or break fortunes of other teams, said Brett Lee.
Hazlewood picked up a calf strain during the drawn third Test in Brisbane that sidelined him for the rest of the five-match series, which is currently level at 1-1.
The right arm pacer has expressed his frustration at being sidelined with a “random” injury. “Just frustrating really. Ticked every box heading into the (third) Test, I could understand if it was my side again, but it was just a random calf strain,” he told 7NEWS.
Hazlewood pulled out after bowling only one over on the fourth day at the Gabba, putting Australia in a difficult position despite holding the advantage in the game.
Hazlewood had been out of the day-night Test in Adelaide as well, with Boland preferred for his superior record in pink ball matches. Australia won the match to tie the series after going down in the first match at Perth.
‘Australia lucky to have Boland’
Former Australia tearaway pacer Lee said Hazlewood’s absence is huge and without him the bowling attack could be without its usual sharpness.
“Any side without Hazlewood in it is a side that I don’t think is as good. Any time that Josh Hazlewood is fit, he is definitely picked in my XI,” he said, as quoted by indiatoday.in.
“His record suggests that. He is a great team man and he is a bit like the McGrath of the team. He just hits that beautiful line and length.
“On the flip side, he has left a big hole in the Australian cricket team, but that is a hole that will be filled nicely by Scott Boland. Australia are lucky they have Boland waiting in the wings, but it is a big loss for Australia,” he added.
Apart from Hazlewood, Australia also have injury concerns of Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head. All-rounder Marsh hasn’t bowled at full tilt while Head has a groin issue.
Josh Hazlewood picked up a calf strain during the drawn third Test in Brisbane that sidelined him for the rest of the five-match series Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
