Josh Hazlewood declared fit, replaces Scott Boland for third Test against India

News Update

Tezzbuzz|13-12-2024

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — On Friday, Josh Hazlewood was cleared to return from a side strain that forced him to miss the Adelaide match. Fellow fast bowler Scott Boland made way for Hazlewood in the only Australian change for Brisbane.

Crushing victories by each side in the first two tests and mediocre form by some of the teams’ leading batters means there is no clear favorite in the third match of the five-test Australia-India series beginning Saturday in Brisbane.

India won the first test by 295 runs at Perth, Western Australia while Australia came back to win the second day-night test in Adelaide by an equally emphatic 10 wickets.

On paper it is advantage Australia considering the home side’s record at Brisbane’s Gabba ground, which is often referred to as The Fortress by Australian cricket fans. In their last 35 test matches since 1988, the Australians have lost only twice and drawn seven while winning 26 at the Gabba.

India has played seven test matches at the Gabba between 1947 and 2021 and has won one and drawn one at the venue. But the last time the teams played there, in January 2021, India won by three wickets, breaking Australia’s undefeated record of 32 years at the stadium located in the Brisbane inner-city suburb of Woolloongabba, hence the stadium’s short-form nickname.

To add to the uncertainty over the series, home advantage is not what it used to be in test cricket. New Zealand won 3-0 recently in India and England has a winning 2-0 lead in its three-test series with New Zealand. England could make it a clean sweep with a win in the third test, also beginning Saturday and in Hamilton, New Zealand.

Australia XI for third Test: Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey (wk) Pat Cummins, Mitch Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

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