Australia’s veteran fast bowler Josh Hazlewood was left frustrated after calf injury ruled him out of the rest of the Border-Gavaskar series against India. Hazlewood had missed the second pink-ball Test at Adelaide due to side strain injury and then couldn’t complete the third Test due to calf injury.
The fast bowler had picked five wickets in the opening Test against India at Perth, including a four-wicket haul in the first innings. But Hazlewood bowled only six overs in the first innings of the third Test at the Gabba, Brisbane before he suffered an injury.
“Just frustrating really. Ticked every box heading into the (third) Test, I could understand if it was my side again, but it was just a random calf strain,” he told 7NEWS.
“It’s just the timing again, they are only little 2-3 week injuries, it’s just the timing of it and missing big games is the frustrating thing,” he added.
Hazlewood is expected to be replaced by Scott Boland, who had delivered for Australia in the second Test at Adelaide.
Hazlewood has an impressive record against India, taking 57 wickets in 17 Test matches at an average of 25.49 but Boland has been a like for like replacement for the bowler from New South Wales.
“Obviously, do a deep dive into it and see what we can come up with … feels pretty random,” he said.
“I’ve had a history of sides and calves, they’re probably the two things that have kept me out for the majority over the last four years. But yeah I sort of just keep adding another layer to the defence hopefully, get back into the gym, I’ve ticked a lot of boxes over the last 12 months,” he added.
The fast bowler will now look to recover before the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka.
“That’s probably the goal, just take it as it comes over the next few weeks,” he shared.
“No rush to get anything in a hurry, it’s just getting everything right. Probably take a few extra days here and there. Ticking things off and getting everything right,” he concluded.
The fourth Test match between India and Australia will be played at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground from 26th December.
