Injured Josh Hazlewood set to miss first Test; doubtful for second game too

Josh Hazlewood

Recovering from an achilles injury, Australia pacer Josh Hazlewood is set to miss the opening Test against India in Nagpur and also remains a doubtful starter for the second game here.

Hazlewood had sustained the injury on his left leg after bowling in the rain-affected Sydney Test - against South Africa last month. "Not sure about the first Test. It's still a few days away, but it's sneaking up pretty quickly," Hazlewood was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz before Australia's final session at the KSCA Stadium in the outskirts of Bangalore.

"Second one is obviously straight after as well. So, we'll play it by ear over the next week and next few days and hopefully Tuesday goes well," added the pacer, who is likely to have his first bowl in Nagpur on Tuesday.

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The opening Test begins on February 9 and if he misses out, Scott Boland might get his first overseas Test. Australia are already without Mitchell Starc for the first Test as the pacer is nursing a finger injury. "Just a bit of workload management at the moment. Just managing the Achilles. I was bowling a fair bit leading into the tour at home and sort of just pushing up against it," he said.

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