While the visitors India are battling in the Brisbane Test, the hosts Australia have got a massive setback as the pacer Josh Hazlewood will miss the remainder of the ongoing Test match. 

The ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 is in a thrilling position. Currently, the battle is going on 1-1 before the third Test result. In the rain-marred Brisbane Test, Australia scored 445 runs in the first innings. At tea of the fourth day, the visitors India were battling to avoid the follow-on. 

Josh Hazlewood's latest injury 

However, in the first session of the fourth day of the Brisbane Test, Australian right-arm pacer Josh Hazlewood only delivered one over before he moved back to the dressing room. After the scan, it has been revealed that the pacer has sustained a right-sided calf strain. He sustained that injury today during the warm-up.

Josh Hazlewood is likely to miss the remainder of the Test series

Due to this injury, Hazlewood will be unavailable for the rest of the ongoing Gabba Test. Cricket Australia has confirmed this news, while the right-arm pacer is likely to miss the remainder of the Test series.  

Cricket Australia stated, "Josh Hazlewood has sustained a right-sided calf strain which will prevent him from playing any further part in the Test match against India in Brisbane. He is likely to miss the remainder of the Test series."

Hazlewood also missed the Adelaide Test

Due to a side issue, Hazlewood missed the last Test at Adelaide Oval, which was a day-night pink ball Test match. Scott Boland replaced him for that Test match and had a crucial role in the team's 10-wicket victory. With that win, Australia leveled the Test series by 1-1 with three more matches to go. Visitors India started the Test series with a massive 295-run win at Perth Stadium, which was Australia's first Test defeat at the venue. 

In the crucial Brisbane Test, while hosts Australia have earned a massive advantage, they have been hit by a fresh injury concern in the first session of the fourth day as one of the key pacers couldn’t bowl much. 

After scoring 445 runs in the first innings of the Gabba Test, Australian pacers dominated on the third day as India were struggling at 51/4. Apart from the opener KL Rahul, who remained not out at 33 runs, all other Indian batters failed to reach double-digit scores.

Watch: KL Rahul's century denied by Steven Smith's stunning catch

Josh Hazlewood reported calf awareness

On the fourth day, Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood could bowl only one over in the first session due to a calf injury. During warm-up, the right-arm pacer felt discomfort in the calf. Later, it was revealed that the right-arm pacer was taken for scans in the treatment for calf awareness. 

An Australian spokesperson said, "Josh Hazlewood reported calf awareness in this morning’s warm-up. He will be taken for scans to assess the injury. Any updates will be shared in due course."

During India’s first innings of the Brisbane Test, Hazlewood picked up the wicket of the former Indian captain Virat Kohli. 

Hazlewood missed the Adelaide Test

Hazlewood missed out on the second Test of the ongoing five-match Test series at Adelaide Oval, which was a day-night pink ball Test match, due to a side strain. Scott Boland replaced him for that Test match, and the right-arm pacer troubled the Indian batters heavily. 

The five-match Test series, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, is currently standing at 1-1. While the visitors India started this Test series with a victory by 295 runs at Perth Stadium, Australia won the pink-ball Adelaide Test match by 10 wickets. 

With less than 24 hours to go for the Gabba Test, Australia have revealed their playing eleven. The hosts make a solitary change by dropping Scott Boland who will make way for Josh Hazlewood. The Australian skipper Pat Cummins confirmed that the ace pacer has regained his fitness after suffering an injury in the first Test and is ready to hit the ground running in Brisbane. 

It was by no means a straightforward decision for the management to make. Hazlewood was sidelined from the Adelaide Test after picking up a side injury. Coming in as his replacement, Scott Boland played an instrumental role with the ball to power Australia to a thumping 10-wicket win helping his side level the series 1-1. 

See also: Marsh available to deliver with the ball in Gabba Test

Cummins sheds light on Hazlewood's selection over Boland

Despite his promising exploits in Adelaide which saw him get rid of Jaiswal, Kohli, Gill, and Rohit, Boland was forced to make way at the expense of Hazlewood. The New South Wales bowler has had to cope with a myriad of injuries throughout his career and the selectors had to mindful of reintroducing him too quickly for the second Test.

But during his conversation with the reporters on Friday, Cummins stated that he is happy to see the way things are shaping up for Hazlewood after the injury. The quick was put through the paces in Adelaide and both the skipper and the medical staff are pleased with how he is hold up.

"He's had no hiccups. He had a really good bowl yesterday, he had another bowl in Adelaide a couple of days previously. Him and the medical team are really confident."

However, Cummins does not rule out the possibility of not having Boland feature for the remainder of the Test series. Boland had been away from the international scene for an eternity but despite his long absence, Cummins thinks highly of him. The Australian skipper hopes to see him in action and play a decisive role at some point in the series. 

"It’s tough. He was fantastic in Adelaide and unfortunately, he’s spent quite a lot of time on the bench in the last 18 months and whenever he plays he’s fantastic. It’s a shame for Scotty but there’s still a fair bit to play out this series so I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t get another crack at some point."

Australia's playing eleven for the third Test

Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh is all in readiness to fire with the ball for his side in the upcoming Gabba Test. Marsh, 33, has instilled a great deal of trust in the coaching and medical staff who played a key role in his recovery prior to the start of the five-match Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series. The all-rounder has faced prior issues with his back since the limited-overs tour to the UK in September where he only bowled once after a hiatus of nearly five months. 

Marsh was expected to feature with the ball in the Sheffield Shield early this season but the plans never materialized as persistent problems with the back proved to be a major hindrance in his bowling. However, despite his difficulties with the back, Marsh managed to leave an impact with the ball in the Perth Test bowling a marathon 17 overs and finishing with two valuable wickets to his name. 

See also: Australia's pace trio signed as BBL supplementary players

Marsh extends his gratitude to McDonald and the rest of the medical staff

Marsh admits that he was slightly underutilized in the build-up to the series. But at the same time, he expresses his desire to play his part with the ball should the need arise. He further adds that he is ready to bowl as many overs as possible for his skipper and makes it clear that there is no upper limit to how many he can bowl.

"I'll try and be ready to bowl as much as Patty needs me. Our allrounders haven't bowled a hell of a lot in Australia the last few years, but I am really thankful for our medical staff and Ronny [coach Andrew McDonald] and Patty who have allowed me the space between that first and second Test to just get right for the game. I didn't bowl as much as I would have liked to in the lead-up to the series, but our medical staff, Ronnie and Patty were really clear. I trusted that."

Furthermore, he also feels grateful for the role the medical and the coaching staff (including Andrew McDonald) played in getting him into the right head space before the start of the second Test. He feels that his back is more than ready to deal with the workload and wants to hit the ground running once he gets an opportunity with the ball in the upcoming Brisbane Test. 

How is Australia's pace battery shaping up ahead of Gabba Test?

Australia have been jolted by some injury concerns in their bowling department in this ongoing Test series. Josh Hazlewood, who initially sustained a lower side strain injury in the aftermath of the first Test was sidelined from the pink-ball Test in Adelaide. With the Gabba nets offering limited space to run, Hazlewood headed to the nearby Allan Border Field where he alongside Starc were put through the paces with an extended run-up. His fitness is closely being evaluated and if he pulls up right on Friday, he will be in a strong position to rejoin the team, potentially at the expense of Scott Boland.

Australian right-arm quick Josh Hazlewood is likely to make a return in the third Test of the Border Gavaskar trophy 2024-25 in Brisbane starting on December 14. The 33-year-old missed out on the day-night pink-ball Test which was held in Adelaide.

Scott Boland was called up as his replacement and he had a devastating impact on the tourists as he finished the game with combined figures of 5-104. Hazlewood's re-inclusion in the lineup can trigger a selection headache for the Australian think tank since there is very little to separate the two pacers based on their recent performances. 

See also: Mohammed Siraj claims Travis Head lied about heated moment in Adelaide Test

Hazlewood put through the paces in Adelaide

During the course of the second BGT Test in Adelaide, Hazlewood underwent a rigorous fitness test and was put through the paces. Although he toiled hard and went through extended spells without facing major difficulties, how he shapes up in the next 24 hours will determine his availability for selection.

So far, Hazlewood seems to be happy with how his body is responding to the workload but stresses that the next 24 hours will hold the key to determining his fate for the remainder of the series. 

"I think it'll be how I pull up in the 24 hours following it really. "Obviously two spells makes a big difference. Cooling down pretty much fully and then going again in the same day, and the intensity has got to be right up there as well. So a few boxes to tick, but it's probably the 24 hours that follow and pulling up again the next day and then thinking 'yeah, I'd be right to go again if I had to."

Hazlewood's past encounters with injury scares

Hazlewood has been plagued with a myriad of injury scares throughout his international career. The 33-year-old pacer has had to contend with injury problems and had to stay low between 2021 and 2023, a period in which he made only three Test match appearances. 

Although some of his omissions have been attributed to specific conditions, there were also two separate episodes of side issues that ruled him out of key Ashes games as well as the World Test Championship final against India last year. 

According to the fast bowler, the current injury felt different, and if it had been the last Test of the series, he might have backed himself to play in Adelaide. 

The ongoing five-match BGT Test series has come to life after Australia managed to stun India by 10 wickets in Adelaide to level the series 1-1. The attention now moves to Brisbane where Australia is likely to maintain their domination. With the World Test Championship (WTC) final on the horizon, the upcoming Brisbane fixture is of utmost importance for both sides.  

Australia faced a massive blow when their key player Josh Hazlewood was ruled out of the pink-ball Test against India in Adelaide. And, right-arm pacer Scott Boland is likely to replace him for the second Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy as well. The Test will begin in Adelaide on Friday. But Scott Boland is not sure whether he will get to play the Test as Sean Abbott and Brendan Doggett have also been added to the Test squad as cover.

Scott Boland has been Australia’s reserve pace bowler for quite some time now. He made his Test debut in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG against England in 2021. Since then, he has played 10 Tests, the last of which was in the Ashes in July last year as well where he has taken 35 Test wickets at an average of 20.34.

However, Team India got to see him with the pink ball in the warm-up fixture at Canberra. Boland was added to the Australian Prime Minister's XI squad well before Josh Hazlewood's side strain made him unavailable for the day-night second Test in Adelaide as well.

SEE ALSO: Travis Head names one of the greatest pacers of the game

India registered a convincing win in the first Test

Meanwhile, Australian journalist Tom Morris also questioned whether the move was right.

Speaking on SEN radio, Morris said: "Did the Australian selectors do the right thing playing Scott Boland against India? Would it have been better for him and Australia to go into this game with India not having seen him with a pink ball?" 

Scott Boland wants to play the second Test

Scott Boland also expected to play more matches a swell. He is 35 and afraid of whether he would play another Test at all. But with Hazlewood injured, Boland now has a fair chance to return in the Test squad. While Hazlewood’s sidestrain does not look too serious, he may return to the team later on.

"I probably expected to play at some stage last summer with seven Tests because of the New Zealand tour as well," Boland was quoted as saying by yahoo.com. "Obviously with those guys (Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc) being so resilient, they don't miss too many and no one wants to give up their spot at any stage."

"They were so dominant last summer, they weren't bowling a heap of overs. We were able to win most of those games, so I probably thought maybe the opportunity had passed. I've worked really hard during the off-season to get my body in a spot where I'm confident that if I get another chance I'll be able to perform for Australia again," he again shared.

Prior to the build-up to the second BGT Test, Australia received a shocking blow as right-arm quick bowler Josh Hazlewood was ruled out on Saturday due to what's described as a low-grade left-side injury. The pacer who took five wickets in Australia's colossal 295-run defeat in Perth will not take part in the upcoming pink-ball Test in Adelaide starting on December 6. 

However, the 33-year-old will remain under the close supervision of the medical staff and will still continue to be a part of the squad in Adelaide to prepare for the remainder of the series.  

See also: Who is Beau Webster? The latest inclusion in Australian Test squad

JUST IN: Josh Hazlewood ruled out of the second #AUSvIND Test with uncapped duo called up. Full details 👇https://t.co/ZHrw3TUO8a

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 30, 2024

Uncapped quicks Sean Abbott and Brendan Doggett make an entry to the squad

Hazlewood's injury has compelled Cricket Australia to rope in two uncapped seamers Sean Abbott and Brendan Doggett into the squad as a cover. Abbott while being handy with the bat averages nearly 30 with the ball in FC cricket and currently holds best figures of 8/63 in this format. The NSW fast-bowling all-rounder featured in six ODIs against India in which he claimed seven wickets. 

The Queensland-born Brendan Doggett is yet to make his international debut for Australia but has been actively performing well in the domestic circuit for quite some time now. The 30-year-old pace-bowling all-rounder has claimed 142 wickets across 40 FC games which includes his career-best figures of 7/58 whilst maintaining a formidable average of 28.63.

Opportunity for Scotty Boland to make an impact

The injury to Hazlewood has opened the doors for Scott Boland. The right-arm speedster from Melbourne has an outstanding record against India in Test cricket and his exploits with the ball in the WTC Final are still fresh in the memories of several ardent fans to this day. 

The 35-year-old has represented Australia in 10 Tests and has picked up 35 wickets at a stellar average of 20.34, Experts suggest that Boland could get a call-up ahead of Abbott and Doggett for the second Test solely due to his experience.

After being already 0-1 down in the series, Hazlewood's injury was the last thing the home side would have wished for. He was at his destructive best in the earlier pink-ball Test match in the 2020-21 BGT series where his figures of 5/8 in the second innings floored India for a record-low of 36. 

The 2025 IPL Mega Auction ended in Jeddah on November 24th and 25th. While all the teams moved on to rebuild their respective squads, they purchased several players for colossal sums of money. Following a tremendous two-day event that saw 577 participants go under the hammer, teams with increased player purses of INR 120 Crores made competent choices and built their squads to cater for their next three years' prospects.

But, certain purchases have resulted in the franchise breaking the bank to obtain its playability. However, these offers have left many wondering whether the price tag they provided is justified. That said, here are the top five pricey bids from the recent 2025 IPL Mega Auction.

Venkatesh Iyer- INR 23.75 Crores (Kolkata Knight Riders)

Kolkata Knight Riders spent a big bank on Venkatesh Iyer. The reigning champions repurchased their ace southpaw for a hefty INR 23.75 crore, making him the most expensive allrounder being acquired. Fans were taken aback when the Kolkata outfits agreed to pay Iyer such a high price. His paycheque last season was a decent INR 8 crores, which has increased significantly through the recently concluded 2025 IPL Mega Auction.

While it was understandable for KKR to repurchase a top-order batter from their title-winning side, the sum paid for Venky Iyer seemed to be exorbitant. In his IPL stint of 50 matches, he has made 1326 runs, averaging over 32 and scalped three wickets.

Jitesh Sharma- INR 11 Crores (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru purchased Jitesh Sharma at the recent Mega Auction. But the keeper could see himself being sold for a large sum, which was a shock for many. Given his decline in performance since last season, it was a surprise when RCB signed him for a whopping INR 11 crores. Several fans and reviewers have expressed reservations about Jitesh's high price.

However, given the franchise's new ideals and game plan of developing young players, Jitesh Sharma will likely be a worthwhile investment as a long-term wicketkeeper. However, it sparks much debate among fans and critics about whether the price tag is justified. He has scored 730 runs in 40 matches, with a fantastic strike rate of 151.14. 

Jofra Archer- INR 12.5 Crores (Rajasthan Royals)

Jofra Archer had a reunion stint in the IPL 2025 Mega Auction. The English speedster was initially excluded from the auction, but a few days before, he obtained his NOC (No Objection Certificate) and registered his name. At the auction, Rajasthan Royals purchased him for 12.5 crores. Archer has had several injuries throughout the years, and he could never produce some crucial spells for the Mumbai Indians. 

But now that RR has spent so much money on the ace speedster, it would be interesting to see the Englishman's homecoming performance. In 35 IPL appearances, he has taken 46 wickets at an economy rate of 7.13.

See Also: IPL 2025: Top 5 Most Expensive Players from the 2025 IPL Mega Auction

Noor Ahmad- INR 10 Crores (Chennai Super Kings)

Noor Ahmad made his IPL debut for the Gujarat Titans in 2023 and was an instant success, taking 16 wickets in 13 games. Though his form slipped the previous season, he took just ten wickets in 10 games. And at the IPL 2025 Mega Auction, the Chennai Super Kings signed him for a whopping ten crores, representing a 3233% salary increase. Interestingly, GT was on a basic salary of 30 lakhs.

Given Noor Ahmad's just a mere few appearances for his national team, the new price tag appears to be far too much. Interestingly, in IPL 2021, he was a nets bowler for CSK, which might be the key reason for having him onboard to the yellow side. In 23 IPL matches, he has taken 24 wickets at an economy rate of eight.

Josh Hazlewood- INR 12.5 Crores (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)

The Australian quickie, Josh Hazlewood, has had a reasonably strong position in the IPL, though he might not be the ideal pacemaker in the shortest format overseas. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru have repurchased him for Rs 12.5 crore. Having already contributed to RCB's successful 2021 season, Hazlewood is expected to spearhead their speed assault again.

His demonstrated ability to generate bounce and movement will considerably improve RCB's fast bowling department. However, his lack of familiarity and poor stats might hurt the team's bowling mix, exposing it to be too expensive. His IPL record consists of him playing only 12 matches and scalping 12 wickets at an economy of 7.93.

Australia’s bowlers showcased outstanding skill and precision, reducing India to a challenging position in the ongoing Test match in Perth. The standout performances came from Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, who took key wickets as India struggled to build partnerships. With precise bowling and sharp fielding, the hosts are in a commanding position.

Reddy's promising knock cut short by brilliant catch

Amidst the top-order fall Reddy was trying to stand tall on his debut match, but in a moment of brilliance, Usman Khawaja took a stunning running catch to dismiss India's Nitish Reddy for 41 (59). Reddy had been looking confident at the crease, displaying impressive shots, including an upper-cut for six and a few boundaries. However, his promising innings ended when he top-edged a pull shot off Pat Cummins’ bowling, handing Khawaja a spectacular catch.

Pant falls to Cummins after brief resistance

Rishabh Pant, who had been playing steadily, fell for 37 (78) when a thick leading edge was caught by Steve Smith in the slips off Cummins’ bowling. Pant’s dismissal proved to be a turning point, as India lost another key wicket, leaving their middle order exposed.

Earlier Dhruv Jurel (11 off 20) also fell to Starc, caught by Labuschagne, while Washington Sundar (4 off 15) was dismissed poking outside off, caught by Carey. KL Rahul (26 off 74) was given out caught behind after a review confirmed an edge. Virat Kohli (5 off 12) and Devdutt Padikkal (0 off 23) fell to short-pitched deliveries, both caught by Khawaja and Carey respectively. Yashasvi Jaiswal (0) was another early casualty, edging Starc to McSweeney at gully. India’s lower order struggled to resist, and they were eventually dismissed by the Australian bowlers in a dominant performance.

See Also: "Follow the process" - Here's what Kohli says Yashasvi before the Perth Test

Marsh strikes twice, breaking India's middle order

Australia’s bowlers delivered a clinical performance, picking up wickets at crucial moments and putting India under constant pressure. Pat Cummins was the standout, claiming key wickets, including that of Nitish Reddy, who was caught by Khawaja after a tough midwicket chance, and Bumrah, who edged a full delivery to Carey. Josh Hazlewood also played a pivotal role, dismissing both Kohli and Padikkal, with the former caught by Khawaja and the latter caught by Carey. Nathan Lyon, with his subtle spin, contributed by dismissing Nitish Reddy with a reverse-sweep catch, further rattling the Indian lineup. Mitchell Starc made his mark with wickets of Jurel and Jaiswal, while Mitchell Marsh’s accurate bowling accounted for Sundar, caught by Carey. The Australian bowlers, led by Cummins and supported by Hazlewood, Lyon, Starc, and Marsh, were relentless in their efforts, securing India’s collapse and restricting them to a modest total.

India were bowled out for 150, with Nitish Reddy (41) and Rishabh Pant (38) being the top scorers. Australia’s bowlers, led by Josh Hazlewood (4/29) and Mitchell Marsh (2/12), dominated the innings.

On the 19th of December, the Punjab Kings (PBKS) franchise could be one of the most intriguing teams to check out. They select the best available players and spend a hefty price to get those who are current trends. Liam Livingstone and Sam Curran are two prime examples of this.

PBKS has a purse of 29.1 crores and eight seats available, two of which are in foreign countries. They have a powerful unit and require a few players to cover the void and others to serve as backups for the regular starters. Here is a list of three possible picks for the next mini-auction from PBKS. 

• Josh Hazlewood

Punjab Kings may target Hazlewood to build a dangerous pace three with Arshdeep Singh, Kagiso Rabada, and the Australian fast himself. The signing of Hazlewood might give the Kings’ bowling attack a new dimension, giving them a force to be reckoned with in the IPL 2024.

With his stint with the Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore, he has proved to be a quality pacer who can scalp crucial wickets and be an economical bowling option. 

• Shahrukh Khan

Punjab Kings put their faith in Shahrukh Khan and backed him like no other team in recent years. However, Shahrukh could not deliver regular results, and the Punjab-based team eventually discharged him ahead of the IPL auction in 2024.

Shahrukh was meant to be a long-term investment, but he has yet to perform as well as predicted. However, PBKS can repurchase him at a cheaper cost and assign him to the finishing responsibilities, as he has set a base price tag of Rs. 40L. Shahrukh has enormous potential and can be counted on to produce once more. 

• KS Bharat

With the wicketkeeping priorities given to Jonny Bairstow and Jitesh Sharma, it is a safer and viable option to rope in another keeper-batter, who can also be a potential candidate to score some crucial runs. And KS Bharat could be one of their players to check out.

The team’s top wicketkeeper, Bairstow, has just been injured, and the English players’ availability is always an issue. As a result, a cover for the Englishmen is required, and KS Bharat fills the bill wonderfully. He can also strike the ball and has shown tremendous improvement as a wicketkeeper, with good technique when given a chance.