Josh Hazlewood out of first Test against India as Aussie attack decimated

Australia will play the first Test in India with an unrecognisable attack, as a cult hero almost certain to be unleashed on the international stage.

Australia’s trusty fast bowling trio has been decimate by injury as Josh Hazlewood was ruled out of the first Test against India with an Achilles injury.

However, it will open the door for Scott Boland to make his overseas Test debut, with the likes of Mitchell Starc and Cameron Green also unavailable for the first Test.

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Australia has long relied on its fast bowling quartet, after the emergence of Green in recent seasons.

But for a long time it’s been Starc, Hazlewood and captain Pat Cummins leading the way for the Aussies alongside offspinner Nathan Lyon.

Starc and Green are both out with finger injuries suffered in the Boxing Day Tests.

Green could still play in the first Test but would only be able to bat.

However, Hazlewood has proven increasingly injury prone recently as the 32-year-old suffered a side strain during the Australian summer, allowing Boland to add a second summer to his Test career.

However, Hazlewood has been ruled out of the first Test and potentially the second Test which begins three days after the first after suffering a left Achilles injury on the damp run-ups at the SCG in the rain-affected draw against South Africa.

It’s a bitter blow for Hazlewood. Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP

While Hazlewood’s form with the white ball has improved greatly in recent years, Hazlewood has hardly been seen in Test cricket, managing just two matches in 2022 and a further three the year before.

Again, Boland, who has taken 28 wickets at 12.21 in six Tests may be the beneficiary with an overseas debut on the cards for the cult hero.

Australia also has “Wild Thing” Lance Morris and could play three quicks in the match.

Australia played match simulation drills on Sunday cricket.com.au reported with Boland and Cummins taking the new ball.

However, it’s expected Australia will play two spinners with Ashton Agar expected to join Lyon.

“Scotty has bowled plenty at the MCG when it was a flat wicket, it probably wasn’t swinging or reverse swinging so he knows how to work hard for a long period of time,” Hazlewood said.

“You’ve got Lance Morris who has worked hard on reverse swing for the last month and then a nice lead-in here with a few sessions.

“The guys are excited first of all to play in the subcontinent, they both haven’t yet, but they’re very well qualified to do so.”

Pat Cummins has a fresh headache. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Speaking yesterday, captain Pat Cummins said Australia had plenty of options for the first Test, as the likes of Mitchell Swepson and promising Lyon-clone Todd Murphy waiting for their opportunity in the traditionally spin-friendly conditions.

“We’ve got plenty of options here (with) finger spin, wrist spin, left arm (pace) when (Mitchell) Starcy comes back,” Cummins said.

“We’ll obviously pick the bowlers that we think are going to take 20 wickets. But how we split that up, we’re not 100 per cent sure yet.”

Asked if he’d play two spinners, Cummins said: “I wouldn’t say it’s a given. Obviously, it’s very conditions-dependent, particularly in the first Test... Once we get to Nagpur we will see that.

“Travis Head also bowls really good off-spin. We have to balance things. We have got plenty of variety there to choose from. We have not locked in any bowling line-up so far.

“I think sometimes, talking about a couple of spinners, you forget how good a lot of our fast bowlers have been in all conditions.”

Australian squad for 2023 Tour of India

Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Lance Morris, Todd Murphy, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner

First Test: February 9-13 in Nagpur

Second Test: February 17-21 in Delhi

Third Test: March 1-5 in Dharamshala

Fourth Test: March 9-13 in Ahmedabad