Josh Hazlewood’s availability for Brisbane test will be evaluated after 24 hours
Josh Hazlewood could create a selection dilemma for Australia ahead of the third Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Brisbane later this week.
The 33-year-old fast bowler, who missed the Day-Night Test due to a low-grade side strain, underwent a rigorous fitness test at Adelaide Oval on Monday (December 9).
Hazlewood bowled a pair of lengthy spells at near-peak pace, and his availability for selection will depend on how he recovers over the next 24 hours.
“I think it’ll depend on how I pull up in the 24 hours following the session,” Hazlewood said after simulating match conditions.
“Two spells in one day is a big test.
Cooling down fully and then going again with the same intensity—it’s all about ticking a few boxes, but it’s really the recovery in the next 24 hours that will tell me whether I’m good to go.”
Hazlewood has struggled with a series of fitness issues in recent years.
Between December 2021 and June 2023, he played just four Tests for Australia.
While some of those absences were due to specific conditions, two separate side strains ruled him out of key Ashes matches and the World Test Championship final against India last year.
Despite the recent setback, Hazlewood believes this injury feels different and that he could have played in Adelaide if it had been the final Test of the series.
“It’s not quite the typical side strain I’ve had before,” Hazlewood explained.
“It’s caused me issues in the past, but I had perfect preparation leading into the Perth Test.
I played the Shield game, got all my fitness tests done, and was happy with where I was.
So, it was frustrating when the injury cropped up.”
“If this was the last Test of the summer, I think I could have pushed through and played, but I would’ve been in a bad state by the end of it.
Even though it was a short game, it just wasn’t quite right.
I know my body and how this injury feels, and I’m better at making those decisions now.”
Hazlewood’s absence in Adelaide gave Scott Boland an opportunity, and the Victorian bowler seized it, taking 5 for 105 in the match.
With workload management set to be a key factor for Australia as they push for another WTC final, the selectors will have a difficult decision to make in the coming days.
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