Melbourne: Australia pacer Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the Boxing Day Test against New Zealand due to a hamstring injury, coach Justin Langer said on Sunday.
Hazlewood suffered the injury during the series-opening Test in Perth and was subsequently ruled out for the remainder of the pink ball match.
Josh Hazlewood has officially been ruled out of the Boxing Day Test: https://t.co/RzGnmO8QKy #AUSvNZ pic.twitter.com/8dzy65ORSC
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 15, 2019
Scans revealed he had suffered a “low-grade” hamstring tear in the night session on Day 2 at Perth Stadium having bowled just eight balls.
Australia selectors will decide on a replacement later for the second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground starting 26 December, Langer told reporters in Perth.
James Pattinson and Michael Neser are the reserve seamers in the Test squad.
Australia were 167 for six at stumps on Day 3 of the Perth Test on Saturday, with a lead of 417 runs.
The third and final Test is in Sydney from 3 January.
Find latest and upcoming tech gadgets online on Tech2 Gadgets. Get technology news, gadgets reviews & ratings. Popular gadgets including laptop, tablet and mobile specifications, features, prices, comparison.
Australia will be bolstered by the return of David Warner, while India will hope for Rohit Sharma to provide solid start. With the series locked at 1-1, there's lot to play for in Sydney for both teams.
Australia coach Justin Langer on Sunday called it a shame and one of his greatest "pet hates" after some spectators directed racial abuse at Indian players during the third Test and were expelled from the Sydney Cricket Ground for their behaviour.
After Sharma’s dismissal, India didn’t score a run for 32 balls. In hindsight, Sharma was right that if he didn’t take on the bowling then the scoring rate would stagnate. But somewhere there had to be better game awareness.