Josh Hazlewood ruled out of World Test Championship final, Michael Neser called up

Josh Hazlewood has officially been ruled out of the World Test Championship after failing to prove his fitness.

Josh Hazlewood will miss the World Test Championship final. Picture: Brett Hemmings/CA/Getty Images

Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the World Test Championship final after being unable to prove his fitness in time for Wednesday’s date with India.

Michael Neser has been called up to Australia’s 15-man squad for the clash at The Oval, however Scott Boland remains the frontrunner to take the third pace spot in Australia’s XI alongside Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc.

Hazlewood, who has played just four Tests since the start of the 2021-22 Ashes, had been in a race against time to be right for the WTC decider after dealing with a raft of injuries in recent times, most recently a side issue sustained during his Indian Premier League stint.

Michael Neser has been called into the 15-man squad. Picture: Tom Dulat/ICC/Getty Images

While Hazlewood was initially named in Australia’s 15-man squad for the game, he was always facing an uphill battle to play. While Hazlewood trained strongly in London on Saturday, he was ultimately not deemed the risk ahead of a packed five-Test Ashes schedule.

Neser, a long-time understudy, had already been part of Australia‘s training camp after starring in county cricket with Glamorgan, both with ball and bat.

Chair of selectors George Bailey said: “Josh was very, very close to being given the green light but we are cognisant that our upcoming schedule means this is not a one-off Test match of us.

“Michael’s county form has been strong and knowing that he was going to be close by allowed for him to keep playing and for us to be able to call on him. He is a great strength to have as part of the fast bowling group.

“This will give Josh an ideal preparation leading into Edgbaston. With six Test matches in a little over seven weeks we will need all of our fast bowling assets.”

Scott Boland is the front-runner to replace Hazlewood. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

While Boland is essentially an unknown commodity in England, former Australian captain Allan Border said the man who destroyed the tourists during the 2021 Boxing Day Test had the ability to match the feats of Terry Alderman, who took 83 wickets at a sub-20 average across the Ashes series of 1981 and 1989.

“We’ve got Boland, he could be our Terry Alderman type. I wouldn’t be discounting him,” Border said as the Aussies ponder the management of their quicks across six Tests including the World Test Championship final.

“He looks like a bowler that’s just born to bowl in England, doesn’t he?

“It’s very hard to leave him out. Boland will play a role at some stage.”

Boland said he would be looking as usual to dry up the opposition’s scoring power.

“I’m trying to base my game around bowling the ball in the same spot, but I also don’t like the scoreboard moving too much when I’m bowling,” Boland said.

MORE TO COME

Originally published as Josh Hazlewood ruled out of World Test Championship final, Michael Neser called up