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NEW DELHI: Prior to their two-Test series against Sri Lanka, which begins on January 29, Australia suffered a significant blow as senior pacer Josh Hazlewood is probably going to miss the tour because of a recurrent calf issue and side strain.
Hazlewood missed the following two Test matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series after hurting his calf in the third Test against India.
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Hazlewood is not expected to participate in Sri Lanka’s red ball matches, according to a report in The Sydney Morning Herald. Selectors will meet on Wednesday to finalize their squad, which may include as many as 16 players for the Test component. On Thursday, an announcement is anticipated.
Additionally, it stated that selectors will choose a white-ball team for the Champions Trophy, which will be held from February 19 to March 9 in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.
Due to Hazlewood’s absence and skipper Pat Cummins’ unavailability, Australia’s pace assault is noticeably diminished. The selectors are giving Hazlewood’s long-term fitness first priority because of the next Ashes series and the World Test Championship (WTC) final against South Africa in June.
The conditions in Sri Lanka are predicted to be very spin-friendly, which will put a lot of pressure on Nathan Lyon, who bowled an outstanding 64 overs in Australia’s last Test match in Galle three years ago.
As backups for Lyon, selectors are also looking at left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann and off-spinner Todd Murphy.
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