Josh Hazlewood out of Indian Test series with injury, Scott Boland set to play in Boxing Day Test

MCG specialist Scott Boland is in line to return to Australia’s side for the Boxing Day Test after Josh Hazlewood went down with a fresh injury concern in Brisbane.

Melbourne cult hero Scott Boland is poised to appear in another MCG Test after Josh Hazlewood sustained another shattering injury setback.

Hazlewood, returning to the side after missing the Adelaide Test with a side strain, was effectively ruled out of the remaining two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar series with a calf strain.

Hazlewood, who sustained the injury in the pre-day warm-up, bowled just one over at reduced pace on day four of the third Test against India at the Gabba.

“You could see Hazlewood, first and foremost he never bowls around 128, he never bowls a short wide one with his first delivery,” said Fox Cricket’s Michael Vaughan.

Hazlewood missed a few minutes play at the start of day four after briefly clutching his side in the warm-up as he left the field with coach Andrew McDonald.

The pace tracker tells its own story.

Josh Hazlewood came in under an injury cloud – and left the match with a fresh injury concern. Picture: Getty

Hazlewood averaged 136kph in the first innings of the first Test, then 131kph in the second and a further reduced 130.7 this match, conspicuously below his fastest work.

Hazlewood has played just 16 of Australia’s last 34 Tests due to a series of injuries.

Boland thrives at the MCG where he has taken 10 wickets in two Tests at 13 apiece including his epic 6-7 against England three years ago.

Australia is expected to call either Sean Abbott or Brendan Doggett into the squad for Melbourne as a reserve fast man.

Originally published as Josh Hazlewood out of Indian Test series with injury, Scott Boland set to play in Boxing Day Test