An Australian pacer has been ruled out of the upcoming Test against India in Adelaide due to a side strain. The pacer forms a crucial part of the pace batsman and his injury has come as a blow to the Australians.

Josh Hazlewood will miss the day and night test due to a minor left side injury, but will remain with the team in Adelaide while he works on his injury. They have struggled for form of late and another setback came at the worst time as Australia are already trailing in the series.

Josh Hazlewood bowled brilliantly in the first Test in Perth, taking four wickets for 29 runs in the first innings before bowling an economical marathon of 21 overs, conceding just 28 runs. His absence will be felt more in the Pink Ball Test as he was the main destroyer in the Day-Night Test in the last BGT.

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He took five wickets for 8 runs in the second innings and was vital in packing India out for just 36 in the second innings, paving the way for an Australian victory. Its precision with subtle variations would have been very effective, especially under the lights.

Sean Abbott and Brendan Doggett joined the team for the second test

In the absence of Josh Hazlewood, Australia have called up Sean Abbott and Brendan Doggett for the next match in Adelaide. Both were impressive in the Sheffield Shield matches and got their reward.

Doggett picked six wickets for 15 runs in the first unofficial Test against India A in Mackay last month and has 11 wickets at an average of 34.27 in three Sheffield Shield games this season. Meanwhile, Abbott recently took six wickets against Tasmania in Sydney and has been in Australia’s Test team for a while.

However, in Hazlewood’s absence, Scott Boland is expected to return to the XI. His last outing in Australian colors was in the 2023 Ashes at Headingly and he has been on the sidelines ever since.

It will be the first time since the 2015 Sydney Test that Australia will be without one of the four main players (Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon) in a home Test against India. The second Test match begins on Friday (December 6) in Adelaide.

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