Australia is relying on Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc to continue playing throughout the home summer, especially after Josh Hazlewood’s injury. Hazlewood will miss the rest of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy due to a calf strain he suffered during the warm-up on day four of the third Test in Brisbane. This makes it crucial for Cummins and Starc to step up in Hazlewood’s absence.
Scott Boland is expected to replace Hazlewood in Melbourne, with the series likely to be tied at 1-1 and India needing one more win to retain the trophy. Questions were raised before the series about whether Cummins, Starc, and Hazlewood could sustain their performance throughout the entire series.
Now, with Hazlewood out, it’s essential for Cummins and Starc to deliver in Melbourne and Sydney. Both bowlers had a heavy workload towards the end of day four in Brisbane, with Starc bowling 89.1 overs and Cummins 87.3 overs in the series so far.
Mitchell Marsh’s bowling will also be crucial, as he may need to be used more to manage workload and ensure the fitness of Cummins, Starc, and Boland for Sydney. Australia has Beau Webster as a backup for Marsh in case of any issues, and Sean Abbott and Brendan Doggett as reserves.
Overall, Australia is counting on its key bowlers to deliver in Hazlewood’s absence and manage their workload effectively to secure victory in the upcoming Tests.
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