Australia’s preparations for the second Test against India in Adelaide have taken a hit, with star pacer Josh Hazlewood ruled out due to a “low-grade left side injury.” Cricket Australia confirmed the setback, which marks Josh Hazlewood’s first missed home Test against India. The pink-ball, day-night fixture is set to begin on December 6, with Australia trailing the five-match series 0-1.
Uncapped pacers Sean Abbott and Brendan Doggett have been added to the squad to bolster their pace options. However, it is likely that Scott Boland, a member of the original squad, will take Josh Hazlewood’s place in the playing XI. Boland, who last played in the 2023 Ashes Test at Leeds, is expected to feature in the Prime Minister’s XI warm-up match before the Adelaide Test.
Josh Hazlewood’s side strain injury a major blow to Australia ahead of 2nd Test
Australia’s preparations for the second Test against India in Adelaide have been disrupted by the loss of Josh Hazlewood, who has been ruled out due to a side strain. The injury leaves a significant gap in Australia’s pace attack, with Josh Hazlewood having been one of the standout performers in the first Test in Perth, where he took 4-29 in the opening innings.
Josh Hazlewood’s absence is a major blow for the Australians. Known for his mastery with the pink ball, Josh Hazlewood delivered a memorable spell against India in Adelaide during their last day-night Test in December 2021, claiming 5 for 8 in five overs as India crumbled to their lowest-ever Test score of 36. In the series opener in Perth, he impressed with figures of 4 for 29 in the first innings and an economical 28 runs off 21 overs in the second.
Brendon Doggett and Sean Abbott is a new addition to the Australian squads
It’s a second call-up to the Test squad for Doggett who travelled to the UAE for a Test series against Pakistan in October 2018 – the first under coach Justin Langer – but did not play.
A proud descendant of the Worimi people of northern New South Wales, the 30-year-old would become just the fifth Indigenous player to earn a Baggy Green if he plays, following in the footsteps of Indigenous pioneers Jason Gillespie, Faith Thomas, Ash Gardner and Scott Boland. Doggett has bagged collected 11 wickets at 34.27 in three Shield games this season.
Sean Abbott, 32 has been a fringe player for Australia in the white-ball. He has played 26 ODIs and 20 T20Is since his international debut in October 2014 and has been on the fringes of the Test side in recent years. He was previously included in Australia’s Test squad for the 2020-21 series against India, while he spent time with the squad as a reserve for last year’s Ashes during a stint playing for Surrey.
Sean Abbott took 13 wickets at 19.84 in two Shield matches this season and has 261 wickets from 87 first-class matches in his career. Abbott and Doggett enter the squad on the back of strong performances in the Sheffield Shield. Abbott, with 261 first-class wickets to his name, recently took 4 for 71 against Tasmania. Doggett, who claimed a five-wicket haul against Western Australia, also delivered career-best figures of 6 for 15 against India A earlier this season.
Both pacers have previously been included in Australia’s Test squads but are yet to make their debuts. Doggett was part of the UAE tour against Pakistan in 2018, while Abbott was named in the squad during the 2020-21 home series against India and served as a reserve during the 2021-22 Ashes.
Australia’s selectors had previously added uncapped allrounder Beau Webster to the squad amid concerns over Mitchell Marsh after he pulled up sore following Perth. Josh Inglis, originally selected as the spare batter, remains in the squad but could be leapfrogged by Webster if Marsh is unavailable for Adelaide.
Australia will be begin training in Adelaide on Monday, a day earlier than originally scheduled. India are due to play a two-day game against the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra on Saturday and Sunday although heavy rain has put that in doubt. Boland is part of the PM’s XI squad with a view to getting some overs under his belt having played just two first-class games this season.
Australia will be hoping for a seamless transition as they aim to level the series, while India will look to capitalize on the absence of one of Australia’s most reliable Test bowlers.
Australia squad for the second Test
Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk.), Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Nathan McSweeney, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster, Sean Abbott and Brendan Doggett