Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Australia pacer Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the second Test against India in Adelaide, scheduled for December 6, due to a low-grade left-side injury, as confirmed by Cricket Australia. This marks Hazlewood’s first absence from a home Test against India. As a result, for the first time since the Sydney Test in 2015, Australia will be missing one of their four key players – Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Nathan Lyon – in a home Border-Gavaskar Test. The quartet had played together in nine consecutive home Tests against India.
Uncapped Pacers Sean Abbott And Brendan Doggett Added To Squad
Uncapped pacers Sean Abbott and Brendan Doggett have been added to the Australian squad. However, Australia is expected to replace Hazlewood with Scott Boland, who was originally part of the squad. Boland is set to play in the two-day warm-up match for the Prime Minister’s XI, starting on November 30. His most recent Test appearance was during the Ashes in Leeds in 2023.
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Hazlewood’s Absence A Major Setback For Australia
Hazlewood’s absence will be a significant blow for Australia, trailing 0-1 in the five-match series. Hazlewood played a pivotal role the last time India visited Adelaide in December 2021, taking 5 for 8 in 5 overs, including three maidens, in a devastating spell that helped Australia dismiss India for just 36.
Hazlewood had also made a strong start to the current series in Perth, taking 4 for 29 in the first innings as India was bowled out for 150, and conceding only 28 runs from 21 overs in the second innings, despite India posting a big total.
Strong Form Of Abbott And Doggett In Sheffield Shield
Both Abbott and Doggett have been in excellent form in the Sheffield Shield. Abbott, a long-time contender for a Test spot, took 4 for 71 in 16 overs against Tasmania in the latest Shield round and has 261 first-class wickets. Doggett, who recently claimed a five-wicket haul against Western Australia, has taken 11 wickets in three Shield matches and impressed with a career-best 6 for 15 in the A game against India A in McKay leading up to the series.
Previous Test Squad Inclusions Without Debut
Both pacers were previously included in Test squads but have yet to make their debuts – Doggett during the 2018 series against Pakistan in the UAE and Abbott during the 2020-21 home series against India, as well as serving as a reserve in last year’s Ashes.
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