India vs Australia: Why is Josh Hazlewood Not Playing Today’s IND vs AUS 3rd Test? Check Australia Playing XI

Josh Hazlewood IND vs AUS: In another major setback, Australia’s premier pace bowler Josh Hazlewood has already returned home after getting ruled out of selection from the ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy 2023 in India. Australia’s confidence got really shattered after they lost the opening Test match by an innings and 132 runs and then also suffered a disappointing 6-wicket defeat at the hands of India during the second Test match. The visitors have already lost the chance of winning the Border Gavaskar Trophy but they still can make a definite comeback and hope to level the series by winning the remaining two games.

India vs Australia: Why is Josh Hazlewood Not Playing Today’s IND vs AUS 3rd Test?

Incidentally, Josh Hazlewood was not available for selection during the first two Test matches against India in the ongoing tour due to Achilles tendonitis. Australia head coach Andrew McDonald has already stated the senior fast bowler will return home where he will be continuing his recovery process. Hazlewood’s experience could have been really vital for the Aussies after he picked up an excellent 7-wicket haul in the Bengaluru Test match in 2017. The visiting Australian team played as many as two frontline pace bowlers during the opening Test match, skipper Pat Cummins and Scott Boland while in the second Test, Cummins was the lone fast bowler.

Australia will now be without both Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins atleast for this third Test at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore as the skipper had to rush back home to take care of his family. This puts a lot of pressure on the returning Mitchell Starc as he is fit after having sustained a finger injury during the last Test series at home against South Africa.

Australia Playing XI

1. Travis Head
2. Usman Khawaja
3. Marnus Labuschagne
4. Steve Smith (C)
5. Peter Handscomb
6. Cameron Green
7. Alex Carey (wk)
8. Mitchell Starc
9. Nathan Lyon
10. Matthew Kuhnemann
11. Todd Murphy

India vs Australia 2023 Schedule