IND vs AUS: Why is Josh Hazlewood is Not Playing Today’s India vs Australia 1st Test? Check Australia Playing XI

Josh Hazlewood IND vs AUS: In a crucial news development, Australia’s right-arm fast bowler Josh Hazlewood is unavailable for selection in the IND vs AUS 2023 first of the four-match Test series scheduled to be hosted at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur. Australia have almost guaranteed themselves a berth in the ICC World Test Championship final scheduled to be played later this year even before the start of Border Gavaskar Trophy.

IND vs AUS: Why is Josh Hazlewood is Not Playing Today’s India vs Australia 1st Test?

Ahead of the first Test match against India starting from Thursday, Josh Hazlewood suffered an Achilles injury in his left leg that ruled him out of atleast the opening encounter. Incidentally, he sustained the injury during the Sydney Test match against South Africa earlier this year and is yet to completely recover from the same. Hazlewood was not even an active part of the visiting Australian camp set up in Bengaluru for their Border Gavaskar Trophy 2023 preparations. It is a vital blow for the Aussies that both Mitchell Starc and Hazlewood are not available for atleast this first Test in India.

During the previous 2017 Border Gavaskar Trophy in India, Josh Hazlewood ended up taking a sensational six-wicket haul in the Bengaluru Test match. The 32-year-old pacer has picked as many as 222 wickets from 59 Test matches at an impressive average of less than 26. The visitors will be hopeful that the senior new ball bowler attains complete fitness for the second Test match against India starting from 17 February, 2023 in Delhi.

Australia Playing XI

1. David Warner
2. Usman Khawaja
3. Marnus Labuschagne
4. Steve Smith
5. Peter Handscomb
6. Alex Carey (wk)
7. Matt Renshaw
8. Pat Cummins (C)
9. Todd Murphy
10. Nathan Lyon
11. Scott Boland

India vs Australia Schedule