Josh Hazlewood has not recovered from the side strain that he sustained in Brisbane, which means that Scott Boland will keep his place in the Australia side for the final Test in Hobart.
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Josh Hazlewood’s Ashes series is over after he failed to recover from the side strain that he suffered in Brisbane. The latest development means that he is not going to play the final Ashes Test in Hobart. In a statement by Cricket Australia, it stated, “Hazlewood, the national selection panel and sports science and sports medicine ream agreed he would remain in Sydney for the next three weeks before joining the squad for the one-day international series against New Zealand and T20 International Series against Sri Lanka. The New Zealand and Sri Lanka series will form part of his preparations for the Test and white-ball tour of Pakistan from early March.”
Hazlewood took three wickets and two stunning catches in the Brisbane Test against England as Australia won by nine wickets. But, his injury opened the door for the likes of Jhye Richardson and Scott Boland. Australia currently leads the five-match Ashes series 3-0 and is gunning for a 5-0 whitewash.
With Hazlewood confirmed to miss the Hobart Test, Scott Boland will keep his place in the Australian team. When Hazlewood missed out for Adelaide, Jhye Richardson stepped in and he took his maiden five-wicket haul in Adelaide. But, a foot injury to Richardson saw Scott Boland take his place for Melbourne.
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The 32-year-old Boland took 6/7 to bowl England out for 68 in the Boxing Day Test. In the Sydney Test, he suffered a rib injury after falling awkwardly. After being out of the field, he returned and took the wickets of Jonny Bairstow and Stuart Broad. Bairstow scored 113, his seventh Test century but England still had a deficit of over 100.
Hazlewood will continue his rehabilitation in Sydney, with head coach Justin Langer stating that he was devastated to miss the Ashes series. Hobart will be hosting an Ashes Test for the first time in history. The original match was supposed to be held in Perth but due to the Coronavirus restrictions in Western Australia, the match was moved to Hobart.
The Hobart Test will also be a Pink Ball affair, with Australia never having lost a Test in this format. The final Test will be played on January 14. Australia last lost a Test in Hobart in 2016 against South Africa.
After the end of the Ashes contest, Australia will play a series of ODIs and T20Is against New Zealand and Sri Lanka. After the home summer, Australia will tour Pakistan after a gap of 24 years.
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