Josh Hazlewood ruled out of the Bangladesh Test series and India tour

Team Australia is in for some bad news, as their premier pacer, Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the ongoing Bangladesh tour with a side injury. He will be missing out on not only the 2-match Test series against Bangladesh, but will also have to sit out the upcoming limited-overs tour to India in October-November. The right-armer suffered a side injury on the third morning of the 1st Test match against Bangladesh, at Mirpur.

Hazlewood’s absence will be a heavy blow for the Australian team, considering that he’s one of their regular, fast bowlers irrespective of the conditions. Moreover, he was one of only two fast bowlers; the other being Pat Cummins, picked by the Australia team for this Test as the selectors had opted for a spin-heavy attack, owing to the pitch being outright spin-friendly. The other pacers in the Australian squad are Cummins and Jackson Bird.

Ruled out of upcoming matches against Bangladesh and India

He struggled with a sore side on the morning of the third day, while bowling against Bangladesh in the first Test. The injury surfaced after he delivered the first ball of his second over of the day, which was incidentally his fifth of the innings. Hazlewood was seen clutching at his side and after having a quick discussion with his skipper, Steven Smith, the pacer walked off the field. Pacer-allrounder, Hilton Cartwright was on the field as his substitute fielder.

After a thorough assessment, it was revealed that the 26-year-old has sustained a left side injury and will have to be left out of the remainder of the Bangladesh tour, which includes the second Test match, starting on September 4. The Mirpur Test hangs in a delicate balance, as Australia needs 156 runs to win, with 8 wickets in hand. It was also reported that Hazlewood will bat if needed, before returning home. The selectors are expected to name a replacement on Wednesday.