Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the upcoming T20I series against Scotland because of a low-grade right calf strain. The seamer faced the issue in training in Sydney and, as a repercussion, will not be able to feature in the series. Cricket Australia confirmed his replacement naming 28-year-old fast bowler Riley Meredith in the squad.
His last game for Australia came in 2021; since then, he has been in absolutely fine touch for Somerset in the T20 Blast, picking up 14 scalps in 12 matches. This latest call-up allows Meredith to add to his five T20I caps. That Mitchell Starc already has a pre-existing injury and that Pat Cummins is resting ahead of the Test series against India means that Australia’s pace-bowling contingent will face a test.
Leading the line, he is set to do that with an expanded squad that witnesses a mix of experience and young talent ahead of the team’s upcoming T20Is for Scotland, beginning September 4 at Edinburgh. This means there could be opportunities for the likes of young bowlers Xavier Bartlett and Cooper Connolly without this trio. Nathan Ellis and Marcus Stoinis also provide options in terms of pace during the series.
Hazlewood’s injury has flagged a few alarms on the depth Australia have in their fast bowling ranks, especially with huge series coming up against England and India. The team manages player workloads tightly, and Hazlewood should recover for the start of the series against England on September 11.
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