Australia’s hope for a result in the Brisbane Test may vanish as they could go a bowler down for the rest of the match as Josh Hazlewood has to leave the field due to calf soreness. In the first session of the fourth day’s play, he was only able to bowl one over before departing the field.
Hazlewood came late on the field at the start of play on the fourth day and appeared in pain when he came into the attack, hardly exceeding the speed of 131 kph. After completing his over, Hazlewood had a lengthy talk with Pat Cummins, Steven Smith, and Physio Nick Jones before leaving the field during the drinks break.
Australian dugout took their chance to get something out of the draw-looking match by pushing Hazelwood onto the field despite already being reported to have soreness in his calf in the morning warm-up session.
According to a CA spokesperson, “Josh Hazlewood reported calf awareness in this morning’s warm-up. He will be taken for scans to assess the injury.”
Injuries have been a constant issue for Josh Hazlewood. Hazlewood experienced a small calf strain earlier this year, keeping him out of the T20Is against Scotland and England. He also missed the second test of the ongoing series in Adelaide due to a side strain.
If Hazelwood’s latest injury proves serious, Scott Boland (who replaced him in the Adelaide Test) might rejoin the side at the MCG on the Boxing Day Test. It seems Hazelwood would be out of the action for a longer period as skipper Cummins hinted that Boland may play a bigger role in the series after missing out in Brisbane.
Australia is attempting to force a victory despite consistent rain delays in Brisbane and may now have to rely on Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Nathan Lyon with assistance from Mitchell Marsh, Travis Head, and Marnus Labuschagne to dismiss India under 245 to force a follow-on.
Because follow-on is their best opportunity of winning. However, it will put further pressure on Starc and Cummins if Hazlewood remains absent.
