December 6, 2024: Ravi Shastri’s comments on the absence of Josh Hazlewood from Australia’s bowling attack in the second Border-Gavaskar Test at Adelaide highlight the significant impact the pacer’s control could have had on the match. Hazlewood’s reliability and ability to maintain tight lines, particularly with the pink ball, have earned him a reputation as one of Australia's most consistent bowlers in day-night Tests.
Shastri pointed out that Hazlewood’s frugality in the first Test, where he bowled 18 overs for just 25 runs, demonstrated the kind of control that would have been crucial at Adelaide, especially with the challenges presented by the pink ball. Hazlewood’s ability to maintain such control in seaming conditions is something the Australian team will miss, especially given the pivotal role his consistent lines and lengths could play under the lights.
The absence of Hazlewood means Australia’s iconic bowling quartet—Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, and Hazlewood—is incomplete, and Scott Boland, who replaces Hazlewood, faces a tall order in trying to fill that gap. Boland, despite his impressive record in pink-ball Tests, including a memorable performance in the World Test Championship final, doesn’t offer the same level of control that Hazlewood does, particularly in such critical conditions.
Shastri also touched on the tactical changes that teams often make in day-night Tests, such as declaring with one hour to go to exploit the best conditions for the pink ball. Hazlewood, with his accuracy and discipline, could have been a key player in such situations, keeping the batsmen on their toes, particularly with the shifting conditions under lights. His ability to test the off-stump would have posed a significant challenge for the Indian batsmen.
Ultimately, while Boland has proven himself in pink-ball conditions, Hazlewood’s absence will undeniably be felt by Australia, and the team will need a collective effort to compensate for his loss. It will be interesting to see how the Australian bowlers, including Boland, adapt to the conditions in Adelaide without their experienced and reliable pacer.
