Aussie Pacer Josh Hazelwood To Miss 1st Test Match Against South Africa

Josh Hazelwood has been ruled out of Australia바카라�s series-opening test against South Africa, leaving Scott Boland and Michael Neser as leading contenders to take his spot in the pace attack at the Gabba in Brisbane starting Saturday. (More Cricket News)

Hazlewood and skipper Pat Cummins missed Australia바카라�s 419-run win over the West Indies in the day-night test, completed Sunday for a 2-0 series sweep, after playing in the 164-run first test win at Perth.

Boland and Neser joined left-arm paceman Mitchell Starc in the bowling unit in Adelaide and collected important wickets but with Cummins set to return to take on South Africa, selectors will have to choose between them.

With 21 wickets in four tests at an average of 10.33, Boland, who plays domestically for Victoria, has the better career figures. But Neser바카라�s home ground is the Gabba and he바카라�s more familiar with bowling in that arena and amid Queensland바카라�s hot and humid conditions.

Cummins said he was 100% ready to start in Brisbane but Hazlewood hasn바카라�t recovered in time from a side strain to join the 14-man squad. Express bowler Lance Morris and batter Marcus Harris were included in the 14-man squad as backups in case of injury.

바카라�Pat continues to improve, bowled with freedom on Saturday and appears likely to play this match although Josh will need more time,바카라� chief selector George Bailey said. 바카라�With that in mind we have retained Michael Neser and Lance Morris in the squad for this match.

바카라�Michael bowled superbly in Adelaide, as did (Boland). We were impressed as always with their performances that backed up what they have achieved in the past. Lance is a very exciting prospect who will benefit from time with the squad.바카라�

Nick Jones, the Australian team바카라�s physiotherapist, said Hazlewood바카라�s soreness was subsiding and it was different to the injury that kept him on the sidelines for most of the last southern summer.

바카라�We are a bit more confident that once that little bit of soreness he바카라�s got settles down, that he will be able to ramp up his bowling a bit quicker,바카라� Jones said. 바카라�And then hopefully he바카라�ll be available for one of the last couple of tests of the summer.바카라�

Australia squad: Usman Khawaja, David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (captain), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland, Michael Neser, Marcus Harris, Lance Morris.