Boxing Day Test 2022: All the latest news and updates

Intrigue had surrounded whether Josh Hazlewood would replace fan favourite Scott Boland for the Boxing Day Test. Now Pat Cummins has revealed the XI.

Josh Hazelwood has been lauded for his selflessness after taking a potentially brutal selection call to leave Scott Boland out of the Boxing Day Test away from selectors’ hands.

Boland will have the chance to reprise his heroics against England 12 months ago against South Africa this time around after Australia announced an unchanged side from the outfit that won the helter skelter first Test at the Gabba inside two days.

Intrigue had lingered all week as to which of Victorian fan favourite Boland or the reliable Hazlewood would combat the Proteas, but Hazlewood decided after training on Christmas Eve that he was not quite right to return from a side strain, ensuring Boland could keep his spot.

It meant a third straight Test out of the XI for the 217-Test wicket veteran Hazlewood, who has played just three Tests since the start of last summer as a result of injury and conditions-based selections.

Josh Hazlewood took the all out of selectors hands. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

“Same XI as the Gabba,” Australian captain Pat Cummins revealed on Christmas morning at the ‘G.

“We gave Joshy every chance. It got to the stage where Joshy more than anyone else just felt he was a little bit underdone. I think it’s a mark of the man Joshy that he kind of said ‘I just don’t feel quite right, so he pulled himself out of selection.

“We’ve talked a lot about how it’s a squad mentality and I think that’s another great example.”

The selection panel of George Bailey, Tony Dodemaide and coach Andrew McDonald were spared what could have been one of the toughest selection decisions in decades, needing to weigh up Boland’s phenomenal record of 25 wickets at 10.36 since his memorable debut against England at his home ground late last year, against Hazlewood’s experience and class.

Had Boland been squeezed out it would have meant Australia entering the first Boxing Day Test since Shane Warne’s death without a Victorian, and Cummins conceded it would not have been a popular call.

Boland has an impeccable first-class record at the ‘G, while his 6-7 in the second innings of the Ashes-clinching rubber against England was the stuff of instant legend.

Scott Boland will get another chance to produce some Boxing Day magic. Picture: Jason Edwards

“It would have been [hard to leave him out]. Again, we didn’t really get to the decision point,” Cummins said.

“I think [people] could have felt a little bit aggrieved if Scotty missed out.

“Great to have a Victorian here. Always get that wonderful support. Last year was pretty much the highlight of the summer for all of us was this MCG Test and the reception Scotty got so hopefully a bit more of it this year.”

Cummins likened Hazelwood’s decision to pull out of the race as similar to the captain’s own decision to sit out the Adelaide Test against the West Indies after a niggling injury.

“He had a really good bowl at training, two days previous. And I think in some ways similar to Adelaide for me, really close, and once you start running the scenarios in your head, you know yourself you’re not 100 per cent right. If you could guarantee you’re only going to have to bowl 20 or 30 overs, we’re all really confident, but playing out the scenarios if you need 40 or 50, you’ve got Scott ready to go,” Cummins said.

But the selection headache may only have been deferred, with Cummins adamant Hazlewood would be right to go for next week’s New Year’s Test against South Africa at the SCG.

“Ninety-nine per cent sure he’ll be right. Just probably a couple of days of missing this one, so he’s fully fit.”

Originally published as Boxing Day Test 2022: All the latest news and updates