December 17, 2024: Australia’s hopes of securing a Test series victory against India have been dealt a significant blow with the news that experienced seamer Josh Hazlewood is likely to miss the rest of the series due to a calf injury. Hazlewood sustained the injury during the first session of the third Test in Brisbane on Tuesday, where he only bowled one over before reporting calf pain in the warm-up. He was subsequently withdrawn from the field for further assessments.
Cricket Australia confirmed that Hazlewood has suffered a right-sided calf strain, which will prevent him from playing any further part in the match. The 33-year-old is now expected to miss the remainder of the Test series. Hazlewood had recently returned from a side issue that had sidelined him for the previous Test in Adelaide, where Scott Boland had replaced him in the squad. Now, with Hazlewood’s injury, Boland is likely to take his place in the playing XI for the fourth Test at the MCG.
Hazlewood had been in impressive form leading up to this injury, taking five wickets in the first Test at Perth, including a four-wicket haul in the first innings. In the ongoing ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle, he is one of Australia’s key performers, with 57 wickets at an average of 19.68, and has taken three five-wicket hauls.
Australia and India are currently tied at 1-1 in the five-match series, with both teams fighting for a place in next year’s ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord’s in June 2025. The loss of Hazlewood will undoubtedly be a setback for Australia, but the team will hope that Boland can step up and provide the necessary support to the rest of the bowling attack.
