Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Australia suffer massive blow ahead of series opener against India

Ahead of start of Border Gavaskar Trophy Australia has suffered a major injury blow as Josh Hazlewood is set to miss first test against India in Nagpur. Hazlewood is out on account of a niggle in his left leg. right-arm is doubtful for second Test in Delhi as well. 

Hazlewood injury would mean Australia will enter VCA stadium without two of ir premier fast bowlers, viz. Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, moreover, all-rounder Cameron Green will be unavailable due to a finger injury. Scott Boland is said to be replacing Hazlewood in first test. first Test between India and Australia will start from February 9, 2023. 

Josh Hazlewood reveals what caused injury

Speaking about his injury Josh Hazlewood said he picked up injury in Sydney test which took place between Australia and South Africa in January 2023. "It's [ injury] still lingering from (Sydney) Test match," Hazlewood said. "We obviously bowled after a lot of rain and jump-offs were quite soft, where we were taking off from and y ended up replacing m as well.
"It sort of worked to a degree, but just that extra load jumping off a soft ground to bowl and again first Test match (back from injury) your body is t used to that sort of workload as well. I was bowling a fair bit leading into (India) tour at home and sort of just pushing up against it. It probably wasn't recovering as well as I would have liked between each session.
"So thought we'd give it a few days here straight of bat and try and get over hump and have a bowl from Tuesday and hope it goes well." Hazlewood said

Over years Josh Hazlewood has emerged as one of Australia's foremost match winners, and his absence from first test may prove to be crucial. However, substitute Josh Boland has perfect statistics to replace Hazlewood. Boland has played six Tests so far, taking 28 wickets at an aver of 12.21 and strike rate of 33.2 but all of those games have been in Australia.