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With the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) Test series currently levelled at 1-1 after Australia’s commanding 10-wicket win in Adelaide on Sunday, December 8, the action will now move to The Gabba in Brisbane, where the third Test is scheduled to be played from Saturday, December 14 onwards.
Just days ahead of the third Test, Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood shared an update around his injury after he missed the second pink-ball Test due to “low grade left side injury”, as reported by Cricket Australia. Earlier after the conclusion of the second Test, skipper Pat Cummins also spoke of Hazlewood’s fitness, seeing that the third Test is just five days away.
Next 24 hours will define if I’ll be ready to go again: Josh Hazlewood
However, Hazlewood is hopeful to play the third Test in Brisbane, he confirmed that his availability will depend on how he recovers in the next 24 hours following a rigorous bowling session at the Adelaide Oval. “I think it’ll be how I pull up in the 24 hours following it,” Hazlewood was quoted as saying by Cricket Australia.
“Cooling down pretty much fully and then going again in the same day, with the intensity right up there, is important. It’s probably the 24 hours that follow and pulling up again the next day that will tell me if I’ll be ready to go again if I had to,” the pacer added. It is to be noted that Hazlewood’s session involved multiple spells at near full pace, followed by cool-down periods and repeated high-intensity bowling.
Further speaking of the injuries due to the high-intensity pace, Hazlewood reflected, “It’s not necessarily your typical side strain. It’s caused me a lot of trouble over the last few years, but I’ve become very well aware of the area and how the feelings are. I know what I can get through and what I can’t. That experience makes my decisions a little bit easier.”
It is to be seen that if Hazlewood is fit and back into the side, the selectors will have a tough task to pick between him and Scott Boland. Boland had an impressive outing in Adelaide, where he finished with five wickets for 105 runs.
