Josh Hazlewood, the Australian pacer, has been ruled out of the remaining two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar series against India due to injury. The announcement was made by Australia's coach Andrew McDonald, who confirmed that Hazlewood is flying home to continue his rehabilitation from an Achilles complaint, according to cricket.com.au.
Hazlewood had sustained the injury in Sydney last month, which had previously ruled him out of the first two Tests in India. Meanwhile, Australia captain Pat Cummins has flown back to Sydney due to a serious family illness, but is expected to return for the third Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar series in Indore.
The Australian team is yet to decide whether to send David Warner home after the veteran opener was subbed out of the second Test in Delhi due to concussion. Coach McDonald said, "He's still sore at the moment. We're in no rush to make any decisions at this point in time around Davey. It will be basically how sore and how functional it (his elbow) is as to what decision we make with him and then the length of the injury."
However, the visitors have better news, as Cameron Green is expected to be 100 percent fit for the third Test, having come very close to playing in Delhi, while Mitchell Starc is also in line to play.
India has already retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series with their six-wicket win in Delhi. Australia had lost the first Test in Nagpur by an innings and 132 runs.
The third Test is scheduled to begin on March 1 at Holkar Stadium in Indore, and Australia will need to regroup and come up with a strategy to make a comeback after the loss of some key players due to injury and personal reasons.