Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood dropped from WTC final team

London. Veteran fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the upcoming World Test Championship (WTC) final against India after failing to fully recover from a hamstring injury. Hazlewood suffered this injury during the Indian Premier League. Pacer Michael Neser has replaced him in the squad for the WTC final to be played at The Oval from June 7-11. Hazlewood has been given extra time to prepare for the five-match Ashes Test series against England following the WTC final.

Neser has been playing in the County Championship for Glamorgan this season and has been in fine touch. He has taken 14 wickets in his last three matches, including a brilliant 7 for 32 against Yorkshire. He has played two Tests for Australia and taken seven wickets. However, medium pacer Scott Boland is more likely to replace Hazlewood in the team’s playing XI. Oval conditions are more favorable for Boland’s bowling. The five-Test Ashes series begins in England on June 16.

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Hazlewood, who has been out for most of the matches for Australia in the past due to injury, will get more time to prepare for an important series like the Ashes. The 32-year-old fast bowler has played only four Tests in the last 19 matches. Hazlewood played only three matches for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the recently concluded IPL due to this injury. Hazlewood had resumed bowling practice in Sydney after finding the injury minor in the test. He also came to England with the team after this but the management decided to give him more rest.