edited by: Aditya Maheshwari
Last Update: February 21, 2023, 14:50 IST
Mitchell Starc, David Warner and Josh Hazlewood are battling their respective injuries (AFP and AP Images)
David Warner and Josh Hazlewood have been ruled out of the remaining matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023.
The ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy has been a rough ride for the Australian team so far. The visitors lost the first two Tests without much struggle on spin-friendly pitches. The Australian batsmen’s technique was exposed against Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin in Nagpur and New Delhi as both the ends were eliminated in just three days.
Pat Cummins and Co. are desperate to make a comeback in the series with the third Test being shifted from Dharamsala to Indore. The visiting team has got some time to rework their plans and strategy against the Asian giants as the two matches will also decide the fate of the team. World Test Championship Final.
However, the Australian camp is grappling with multiple injury woes as David Warner has been ruled out of the last two Tests as he returns home. Apart from him, fast bowler Josh Hazlewood, who missed the first two Tests, has also been ruled out of the team due to an Achilles injury. Hazlewood will also return to Australia to complete his rehabilitation.
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“Warner suffered an elbow injury in the second Test in Delhi and suffered a hairline fracture. Following further assessment, he will require a period of rehabilitation which will prevent any participation in the remainder of the Test series. He is expected to return India for the three One Day Internationals after the Test series,” Cricket Australia said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Australia were without the services of their star players Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc in the first two matches as they have not fully recovered from their finger injuries. There is no confirmation yet on his availability for the Indore Test as the team management is closely assessing his conditions.
The injury woes did not stop there as off-spinner Todd Murphy, who claimed eight wickets on his debut in Nagpur, also suffered a minor injury. However, head coach Andrew McDonald feels he is expected to be fully fit before the third Test.
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Earlier, Mitchell Swepson also went back to Australia for the birth of his child and missed the first two matches, but he will return to India for the last two matches which are very important for Australia in the context of the WTC final.
Cummins returned home midway through the Border-Gavaskar Trophy due to a serious family health problem. The Australian skipper will join the team for preparations for the third Test starting March 1 in Indore.
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