Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood, who missed out on the pink-ball Test in Adelaide, has returned to the side ahead of the Gabba Test in Brisbane. The veteran pacer missed out due to a side strain while practicing. He made a faster-than-expected recovery and demonstrated his fitness by bowling at full intensity on Thursday at the Allan Border Field, located eight kilometers from the Gabba.
Captain Pat Cummins announced that Scott Boland would step aside for Hazlewood at the Gabba, acknowledging that the Victorian was unfortunate to lose his spot after claiming five wickets in Australia’s second-test win.
Pat stated, “He had a really good bowl yesterday, he had another bowl in Adelaide a couple of days previously. He and the medical team are really confident.”
his exceptional accuracy, consistent line and length, and ability to extract bounce from the pitch. Renowned as a key figure in Australia’s bowling attack, Hazlewood is often compared to the legendary Glenn McGrath for his precision and discipline.
In the first Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test match, Josh Hazlewood delivered a standout performance, showcasing his skill with the ball by consistently troubling the Indian batsmen. He bowled the spells of 4/29 (Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli, Harshit Rana, and Jasprit Bumrah) and 1/28 (Devdutt Padikkal).
His ability to generate bounce and movement on a challenging pitch proved crucial in breaking key partnerships, helping Australia gain the upper hand in the match. Hazlewood’s disciplined bowling and knack for striking at critical moments reaffirmed his status as a vital asset for the Australian team.
Australia XI for third Test at Gabba
1: Usman Khawaja
2: Nathan McSweeney
3: Marnus Labuschagne
4: Steve Smith
5: Travis Head
6: Mitch Marsh
7: Alex Carey (wk)
8: Pat Cummins (C)
9: Mitch Starc
10: Nathan Lyon
11: Josh Hazlewood
Scott Boland will not find a place in the Australia XI for the all-important third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, starting this Saturday, December 14. This is a crucial Test match as the series is tied 1-1, with the remaining 3 matches on the card.
