Australia’s preparations for the highly anticipated ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final against India were dealt a significant setback with the news of experienced fast bowler Josh Hazlewood being ruled out due to a side strain he suffered while participating in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023.
The much-anticipated WTC final is scheduled to take place at the Oval from June 7 to 11.
As Hazlewood’s replacement, Australia have included fast bowler Michael Neser in the squad. While Hazlewood will be given additional time to recover and focus on the forthcoming Ashes series in England, Neser has been showcasing impressive performances in the County Championship for Glamorgan this season.
Neser’s recent form has been exceptional, evidenced by his haul of 14 wickets in his last three matches, including a remarkable display of 7/32 against Yorkshire. However, Scott Boland is the more likely candidate to secure a spot in Australia’s starting lineup in Hazlewood’s absence, particularly in conditions that favour his style of seam-up, hit-the-deck deliveries.
The Ashes, a five-Test series in England, is set to commence on June 16. This extended break will grant Hazlewood additional time to prepare for this crucial series, during which he is considered one of the key pillars of Australia’s three-man pace attack.
Hazlewood sustained the side strain during his injury-plagued tenure with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the recently concluded IPL, where he only managed to participate in three matches with limited success before returning home.
The right-arm seamer resumed bowling upon his return to Sydney, as scans had indicated no significant damage or injury. Despite being a pivotal figure in Australia’s pace attack, Hazlewood has faced rare appearances in Test cricket, featuring in only four of the last 19 matches due to a series of injuries.
