BGT 2024-25: Josh Hazlewood provides update on his injury ahead of 3rd test at Gabba

Josh Hazlewood missed the second test in Adelaide due to a side strain.

Australia could welcome back Josh Hazlewood to their playing XI for the 3rd BGT 2024-25 test after the lanky seamer missed the second test due to a mild side strain.

The third test of the series will be played at the Gabba in Brisbane from December 14. The five-test series is currently locked at 1-1 following India’s 295-run win in Perth and Australia’s 10-wicket triumph in the day-night test in Adelaide.

Hazlewood played in the Perth test and returned with figures of 4/29 in India’s first innings, being the key man to dismantle the visitors for 150 runs. But he missed the second test with a low-grade side strain.

In his absence, Scott Boland featured and Adelaide and bowled superbly, picking up five wickets in the match for 105 runs, including the second-innings wickets of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli.

Josh Hazlewood provides update on his injury ahead of 3rd test at Gabba

On Monday, Josh Hazlewood had a fitness test in Adelaide. He bowled two lengthy spells in his fitness test that simulated match conditions. After that, Hazlewood said that a decision on his fitness and availability for the Gabba test will be made in the next 24 hours after he has another fitness test on Tuesday.

“I think it’ll be how I pull up in the 24 hours following it really. Obviously two spells makes a big difference. Cooling down pretty much fully and then going again in the same day, and the intensity has got to be right up there as well,” Hazlewood said.

“So a few boxes to tick, but it’s probably the 24 hours that follow and pulling up again the next day and then thinking ‘yeah, I’d be right to go again if I had to’.”

Hazlewood has been dealing with side injuries in the last few years. He’s had two major side injuries since 2020, around the time he became a regular white-ball bowler.

However, the issue that kept him out of the Adelaide test was’t the “typical” side strain he’s had before, the pacer revealed.

“It’s not necessarily your typical side strain, which I’ve had a couple in my career. It’s caused me a lot of trouble over the last few years, but perfect prep this year [coming into the Perth Test]. “I played the Shield game and ticked all that off and I was very happy where I was and it still happened, so I was pretty annoyed for a few days,” Hazlewood asserted.

For more updates, follow Khel Now Cricket on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.