Ashes 2021-22: Justin Langer hints Josh Hazlewood might miss pink ball Test in Hobart

Australia have missed their key bowler Josh Hazlewood since the first Test in Brisbane. He suffered a side injury at the Gabba and hasn’t been able to play a game since then. Jhye Richardson, Michael Neser, and Scott Boland have played in place of Hazlewood and have performed really well.

There were chances of the pacer featuring in the ongoing Sydney Test but with Australia retaining the Ashes in the first three Tests, it seems the hosts don’t want him to rush him back. Meanwhile, Australia head coach Justin Langer has indicated that Hazlewood might miss the final Test as well. The fifth Ashes Test is set to be played with a pink ball in Hobart.

“It’s been really tough on him, he has been really hanging out to play in this Ashes series like everyone,” Langer said as quoted by FoxSports. “He has missed three games, so to have one of our premier fast bowlers out of the series, I guess it is a bit like England missing one of their premier fast bowlers. At this stage if I was a guessing man I’d say that he probably wont play the next Test match but we will wait and see,” he added.

The fifth and final Test is set to commence on January 14 at the Bellerive Oval, Hobart. Australia last played a Test match at this venue in November 2016 against South Africa which Proteas won by an innings and 80 runs. England will be playing their first match at this venue where Australia has lost only two Test matches since 1989.

Jonny Bairstow shines on Day 3 at SCG

Meanwhile, in the ongoing Test match in Sydney, Jonny Bairstow smashed 103 runs off 140 balls on Day 3 and helped the English team fight back for the very first time in this series. Earlier, Scott Boland dismissed Zak Crawley and Joe Root and it looked like England might again repeat the script that they have followed in the last three games.

However, a partnership of 128 runs between Bairstow and Ben Stokes made sure that England have something on the board. Mark Wood also played a significant knock of 39 runs off 41 balls which included two fours and three sixes. They ended the day on 258/7, still trailing by 158 runs in the first innings.