Scott Boland. | (Image Credits: Twitter)
Australian cricket team has confirmed their eleven for the decisive second Test against Team India at the Adelaide Oval, beginning on December 6. With Josh Hazlewood ruled out due to a side strain sustained in Perth, Scott Boland will replace him and will play only his third Test against India.
Boland had played a solitary Test during the tour of India last year and was one of the significant reasons behind Australia’s World Test Championship (WTC) final victory at The Oval in June 2023. He had dismissed the likes of Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KS Bharat and Ravindra Jadeja, fashioning a comprehensive 209-run win for their side.
Hazlewood will nevertheless be a massive miss for the home side, given he was their best bowler amid a 295-run run thrashing in Perth, picking up five scalps and doing so economically. The New South Wales seamer also has taken 41 wickets in seven matches at the venue with three fifers, averaging 16.83.
“To be honest mate, he puts everyone first” – Nathan Lyon on Josh Hazlewood
Meanwhile, off-spinner Nathan Lyon stated that Hazlewood will be sorely missed by Australia in Adelaide, but suggested that he is doing everything to be fit for the third Test. He said, as quoted by India Today:
“It’s pretty disappointing. The other day when he told me, about four or five days ago now, that he had a little side issue. But, yeah, the quality of a person that Josh is. He is getting around everyone, making sure that everyone’s right here first, but he’s also doing his rehab and training ball. You’ve seen him doing his training tonight, and I think he did a 90-minute rehab session yesterday, so he’s the ultimate team man. To be honest mate, he puts everyone first, and you will see that this week.”
