Josh Hazlewood in fresh blow for reeling Aussies as Scott Boland primed for comeback against India

The Aussies have been delivered a huge blow after going down to India in Perth with Josh Hazlewood ruled out of the second Test with Mitchell Marsh's availability also a concern. The Aussie batting line-up has been under immense pressure heading into the day-night Test in Adelaide having failed to score enough runs in Perth.

Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith are a particular concern with the form of both batters dropping off across the last 18 months. While Andrew McDonald is unlikely to make changes to the batting set-up just yet, despite calls for Labuschagne to return to Sheffield Shield cricket, he will be forced to shuffle the bowling order.

Hazlewood was Australia's best bowler in Perth having started the summer with his relentless accuracy troubling the visitors. Hazlewood finished the first innings with 4-29 and the second with 1-28. However, he bowled 21 overs in the second innings with an economy of 1.33.

Unfortunately, the tall quick suffered a side strain in the defeat and will not play with the pink-ball in Adelaide. This is an enormous loss for the Aussies with Hazlewood taking his career-best figures in Adelaide against India with 5-8 back in 2020.

This is also massive loss for the Aussies with Mitchell Starc and Hazlewood the two best bowlers in Perth. Cricket Australia announced the news with Sean Abbott and Brendan Daggert both brought into the squad.

While the duo have been brought into the side, with Daggert in form, Scott Boland appears likely the next man to come straight into the team. The fan favourite has always delivered when called upon in the baggy green and the 35-year-old will enjoy the movement with the pink ball.

Regardless, the blow is a concern for the Aussies with the Adelaide Test a pivotal moment in the series with India already holding the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Hazlewood had his 2021 Ashes campaign derailed with a side-strain injury.

He was then ruled out against the West Indies in the second Test last summer with a similar injury. Hazlewood's availability will be a worry for the Aussies heading to Adelaide and then Brisbane with his setback an issue for the ageing Aussie side.

Mitch Marsh a doubt for second Test against India

Hazlewood is not the only injury concern for the Aussies. Marsh was called upon to bowl 17 overs in the first Test in Perth, but pulled up sore. Marsh has not been a regular with the ball since his return, but due to the absence of Cameron Green he was needed to help out the veteran bowling attack.

And coach Andrew McDonald claimed the allrounder was a doubt for the day-night Test due to his fitness. “We knew that Mitch was slightly underdone coming in but I thought the performance in the first innings was satisfactory,” McDonald said when leaving Perth.

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This has prompted calls for Tasmanian allrounder Beau Webster to come straight into the team. Webster was one of the few standouts in the Australia A game against India having scored 33 and 61 not out in the first win. He then backed it up with figures of 3-49 in the second hit-out having also scored 46 not out in the second innings.

And in the Sheffield Shield clash this week, Webster has starred for Tasmania against New South Wales. Webster finished the first innings with 61 runs off 81 balls. He then took 3-81 having dismissed three of the top four in the order.