- Josh Hazlewood suffered a calf strain on Tuesday
- The quick Australian had returned from a side strain this week.
- His absence could reopen the door for Scott Boland
Josh Hazlewood’s summer Test series could be over after the Australian bowler stopped with calf pain on the fourth morning of the Brisbane Test.
The pacy 33-year-old had overcome a side strain ahead of this week’s clash against India at the Gabba.
But on Tuesday, Cricket Australia confirmed that Hazlewood, who took 278 wickets in 71 Tests, had undergone scans which confirmed he had suffered a right calf strain.
The governing body adds that Hazlewood, who struggled for one over before the first drinks break, “is almost certain to miss the remainder of the series.”
A Cricket Australia spokesperson added: “A replacement in the team will be made in due course.”
Scott Boland took Hazlewood’s place to take part in the Adelaide Test and is now back in the frame to play in Melbourne. The Victorian quick took five wickets at the Adelaide Oval last week.
The Australians have lost Josh Hazlewood to injury in their attack in the Brisbane Test
Scott Boland appears as Hazlewood’s replacement for the Boxing Day test if the seamer fails to recover in time
Having overcome a side strain to face India at the Gabba, Hazlewood felt pain in his calf on Tuesday morning.
Cricket Australia claims Hazlewood had shown no signs of injury on Tuesday, with the 33-year-old dismissing Virat Kohli.
The 33-year-old had suffered a right calf injury in August during Australia’s white-ball tour of the United Kingdom.
Team medical staff say Hazlewood first experienced “consciousness” in his calf while warming up for day four, which led him to remain off the field for the start of the game.
The seamer was noticeably off pace during his only spell of the day, with his first delivery a rare long bounce that KL Rahul sent to the point boundary.
By the time the drinks were taken, Hazlewood was in deep discussion with captain Pat Cummins, Steve Smith and the Australian team’s physiotherapist, before leaving the field.
Any injury to Hazlewood could have serious ramifications for the rest of the series.
Australia is wasting the opportunity to win the continuation against India in Brisbane, as rain washed away a significant part of the game.
By the time the drinks were taken, Hazlewood was in deep discussion with several teammates and the Australia physio before leaving the field.
The 33-year-old had suffered a right calf injury in August during Australia’s white-ball tour of the United Kingdom.
That is likely to leave Mitch Marsh needing to bowl more overs than expected, having battled his own injury problems this summer.
While Boland appears to be the immediate choice to replace Hazlewood, any strain on the workload of Cummins, Mitchell Starc or Marsh could mean Australia have to blood a debutant, with Sean Abbott, Brendan Doggett and Beau Webster all part of extended squads this summer.
A one-week gap is planned between the Brisbane and Melbourne tests, with just three days separating the finish at the MCG and the start in Sydney.
Hazlewood has battled lateral strain issues in the past, and similar injuries are largely responsible for him only playing three Tests between late January 2021 and early June 2023.
The quick had bowled five overs on Monday for Australia without any problems, before Tuesday’s concern.