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The third Test of the ongoing five-match series between India and Australia is scheduled to take place at The Gabba in Brisbane and will be played from December 14 to 18.
Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood. (Picture Credit: AFP)
Star Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood, who is not playing in the ongoing second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Adelaide due to injury-related issues, said that he hopes to be available for selection in the third Test. The third Test of the ongoing five-match series between India and Australia is set to take place at the Gabba in Brisbane from December 14 to 18.
According to the Aussie pacer, who dismissed four Indian batters in the first innings of the series opener played at Optus Stadium in Perth last month, he has ticked a few boxes already and has some more to tick.
“The body is feeling pretty good. I mean, it’s a long gap between the Tests, so it’s given me a few more days to try and recover. I have ticked off a few boxes this week so far, and I’m looking to tick off a big one on day four—bowl a few spells throughout the day and see how it pulls up. So, fingers crossed for that day,” Hazlewood was quoted as saying by Channel Seven.
“I had a little bowl on one of the main training days and was sort of just 70% then. So, yesterday I ticked off 80 to 90% at the nets and just kept building on that. I hope so; I hope so. The side’s been a bit of a niggle for me for a few years now. This is such a minor strain; I ticked a few boxes already and a few more to tick, so fingers crossed,” he added.
In place of Hazlewood, Scott Boland was added to Australia’s playing XI for the day-night Test, and the 35-year-old fast bowler justified his selection by taking two wickets for 54 runs in the first innings. Boland opened his account by trapping Shubman Gill in front of the wickets during the first session of Day 1’s play, and then in the second session he dismissed Indian captain Rohit Sharma.
Like Gill, Rohit was also trapped in front of the wickets by the Melbourne-born pacer, who is playing in his 11th Test these days.
