Australian fast bowlers Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Pat Cummins are all ready to return to the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, as per The Indian Express. The three had missed the Champions Trophy because of injuries but are now ready to return to the field.

Big Boost for IPL Teams

Their return is good news for their respective franchises since all three are world-class fast bowlers with significant experience in T20 cricket.

• Pat Cummins will remain the captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad and will lead them right from the first match.
• Mitchell Starc, who took the IPL 2024 championship with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), has joined Delhi Capitals this season.
• Josh Hazlewood, who had suffered from several injuries, will again be playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

ALSO SEE: WPL 2025 Final: Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians – The Ultimate Showdown

Injury Return & Expectations

Cummins, Starc, and Hazlewood all were excluded from the Champions Trophy due to various injury issues but now are well and ready for IPL 2025. Returning will strengthen their respective teams' bowling attacks and increase the intensity of the competition.

With all these key Australian pacers returning to the field, cricket enthusiasts can look forward to some exciting performances in IPL 2025!

Champions Trophy matches have ignited the fire in cricket fertility the tournament is commencing after 8 years gap due to the pandemic. Reciprocating the ODI World Cup nearby the panel decided to allocate in 2025. ODI world champions are getting ready for another big event but this time it's quite different. 
Before the start of the tournament, many international players were injured including Australian players. The long run of the Bgt series has uplifted Australia with a series of injuries to their main players. Even countries like India, and New Zealand are also substantially lacking their main players before entering the tournament. 
Read More: England Will Be Completely Different Team In ICC Events Says Jos Butler

Steve Smith Leading The Command Once Again

Australia has been a powerhouse in the cricketing world the players and the captains they have produced are remarkable that's why they are holding many ICC trophies not relying on one individual. This Champions Trophy is going to be quite a tough one for them as they have lost their leader Pat Cummins. After the sandpaper scandal, the Australian Board decided to give the captaincy to a non-familiar guy and they chose Pat Cummins. 
 Pat Cummins was never disappointed with the decision even though he worked on his game and the 2023 World Cup made him eternal his captaincy was spot on, another big tour he had to deal it was Bgt which they haven't won till 10 years and guess what Pat Cummins bought back Bgt trophy to Australia after 10 years. From there Australia's problem started when they had to lose their main man due to an ankle injury. Now Steve Smith will be leading Australia for this Champions Trophy. 
Every Term Is Possible
Australia's batting possesses more power than any other team you name them Steve Smith, Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell, or Josh Inglis they can win you games from scratch but the main problem arises concerns their bowling where there is nothing to say much about their main players like Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazelwood, Pat Cummins are out of tournament leaving Adam Zampa the recognised bowler in the team who had to lead the bowling side. 
It would be quite hard for Australia to defend a total though if they are batting first quite safely but rely much due to the recent form Australia is having, during a recent series against Sri Lanka they lost both their ODI matches even after the World Cup victory the winning record is not so impressive for Australia. But they are quite different in the ICC tournament where every individual gives a significant performance on their given day.
Read More: Former Mumbai Captain And Selector Milind Rege dies at the age of 76
Australia are in Pool A where they gonna face England, South Africa and Afghanistan. It would be easy for Australia to regain their confidence they have to be careful against Afghanistan because their track record is so poor as they knocked them out in the last ICC T20 World Cup. Still neglecting Australia is asking for trouble

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 awaits the most cricket tournament, unfortunately, some of the top players are not taking part in this tournament due to injuries and so on. A comprehensive list going over the players who were dropped and why they did not make it. 

1.Jasprit Bumrah(India)

India's best fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out due to a lower back injury. He had back problems during the final Test at Sydney against Australia that also ruled him out of the T20 series with England. Doctors have recommended complete rest to recover properly from such injuries.

2. Saim Ayub (Pakistan)

Saim Ayub (Pakistani Young batsman) right ankle fracture Saim Ayub Pakistani young batsman will not be playing in the tournament. His ankle got him during the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town. He is looking to be back fully fit around ten weeks from now, therefore will not be ready for the Champions Trophy.

3.  Pat Cummins (Australia)

The Australian top-order batsman was ruled out by an ankle injury. Cummins suffered the injury while playing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India and has yet not been fit.

4. Josh Hazlewood (Australia)

Another important Australian fast bowler, Josh Hazlewood will also not be available for play in the tourney due to a hip injury. The same as earlier this season when he was pulled out of the Gabba Test in order not to risk his comeback with two weeks to go.

ALSO READ: SL vs AUS 1st ODI Live Streaming: Where & How to Watch the match online and tv

5. Mitchell Marsh (Australia)

Australian pace allrounder Mitchell Marsh has capped his career because of a back injury which has he considered for him to bring to life in the Champions Trophy.

6. Marcus Stoinis (Australia)

Australia batsman Marcus Stoinis has retired from ODI (One Day International) The decision is meant, that he will not be a part of Australia's squad for the Champions Trophy. 

7. Jacob Bethell (England)

England tour of India: England's Young England all-rounder, Jacob Bethell hurt his hamstring The injury will take a few weeks to heal and he won't be fit for the tournament.

8. Anrich Nortje (South Africa)

South African Anrich Nortje has had a bad back as well. He has not played international cricket since the 2024 T20 World Cup final and later had a bad inversion in the nets recently.

ALSO READ: Matthew Kuhnemann Reported for Suspect Bowling Action After Sri Lanka Test

9. Gerald Coetzee (South Africa)

Gerald Coetzee was ruled out with a tight groin They were tested medically and told playing in this tournament could make his injury worse so team management has pulled him out.

10. Mitchell Starc (Australia)

Mitchell Starc pulls out of Champions Trophy for personal reasons The full scoop on that call has yet to be released. 

Australia’s cricket team has been in a major blow, losing two of their key fast bowlers, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, ahead of the Sri Lanka ODI series and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. It’s a tough setback, considering how crucial they have been to Australia’s success in recent years.

As if that were not enough, Marcus Stoinis has also announced his retirement from ODI cricket, leaving the count forward. Key players absence, Australia has had to alter the squad at the very last minute of the tournaments,w hich is very importent.

Tough times are indeed ahead. But that would have been the best opportunity for new faces to come and prove their worth for upcoming matches.

Fresh Faces for Australia

• Ben Dwarshuis: The left-arm pacer  gets international cricket for some time, and now he gets his shot at the big stage.
• Jake Fraser-McGurk – The explosive batter is a rising star in domestic cricket, making headlines with his aggressive stroke play.
• Spencer Johnson – He is another left-arm quick with the ability to produce pace along with accuracy and it is an opportunity for him to prove his worth at international level.

ASLO SEE: Gongadi Trisha: Telangana's Pride and India's Cricket Star

🚨 𝑩𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑲𝑰𝑵𝑮 🚨

Australian pace duo Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have been ruled out of the Sri Lanka ODI series and the Champions Trophy 2025 🇦🇺🤕

Ben Dwarshius, Jake Fraser-McGurk, and Spencer Johnson have been added to the ODI squad 🔁#PatCummins #JoshHazlewood… pic.twitter.com/uPeigUfSl2

— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) February 6, 2025

It's a massive loss, to say . Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are not only excellent bowlers, but  also strong leaders on the field. It will be a bad that Stoinis also departed from the field.But this introduces young players in the team.

With the Champions Trophy just a few days away, Australia has been put on notice to make swift adjustments. Can these new faces make it through? Only time will tell.

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.