Josh Hazlewood’s nagging Achilles injury has opened the door for Scott Boland or Lance Morris to play in Australia’s first Test against India.
Hazlewood revealed he had been batting with the concern since last month’s SCG Test and while he was hoping to be passed fit for the series opener, his prospects appear unlikely.
With Mitchell Starc already ruled out for the first Test and Cameron Green unlikely to bowl until the second Test, the question is who Australia pair with Pat Cummins.
Hazlewood endorsed Boland’s chances due to the Victorian often bowling on flat wickets at the MCG and Ian Healy believes he’s the man to pick if Australia opt to pick just two seamers.
“First Test, we’ve just got Cummins,” Healy said on SENQ Breakfast.
“We might play two spinners or may not, which would mean we’d need Boland and Morris.
“If we play two quicks, I’d play Boland, if it’s three quicks then Morris gets in.
“I don’t think we win in India by being conservative, but I think just Cummins and Morris in together only is maybe not enough.
“We’ve only won one Test (in India) since 2004.”
While Boland is yet to play an overseas Test, it’ll be hard for Australia to ignore the right-armer who averages 12.21 from 28 wickets down under.
If Australia picks three seamers, which they have refused to rule out, it appears certain that all three of Cummins, Boland and Morris will be selected alongside Nathan Lyon.
The first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Series begins on Thursday in Nagpur.
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