Hazlewood's Test series likely over with calf strain

A despondent Josh Hazlewood is facing the reality of another stint out of Australia's Test team with the quick set to be sidelined for the Melbourne and Sydney Tests.

Hazlewood was sent for scans after just one over of bowling on Tuesday morning after hurting his right calf in the warm-up before play.

Medical staff have since confirmed the injury is only a strain, but it is expected to be serious enough to end his home Test summer early.

The injury comes in Hazlewood's return Test from a side strain, which ruled him out of Australia's 10-wicket win in Adelaide earlier this month.

The Brisbane Test appears destined to be a draw, leaving the series level at 1-1 and India needing one win from the final two matches to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Scott Boland is the favourite to again come into Australia's side for the Boxing Day Test, with officials hoping he, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc can play the last two games unchanged.

"He's pretty despondent," bowling coach Dan Vettori said of Hazlewood.

"He felt it this morning in the warm-up and gave it a good crack.

"It's just disappointing for him to come back, put so much effort in after a side strain from the last Test and then to pick up a calf injury here.

"Particularly in these circumstances was really tough on him."

The back-to-back injuries are the latest in a frustrating run of years for Hazlewood.

While he has played the majority of Australia's Tests in the past 18 months, the quick featured in just three between the end of January 2021 and start of June 2023.

At age 33, it's questionable how much more Test cricket Hazlewood will play before the start of next summer's Ashes.

Australia have a two-Test tour of Sri Lanka in late January and early February, but it's expected they will play at least one extra spinner in those matches.

When Australia last toured the country in 2022, it was Hazlewood who missed out as Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc played ahead of him.

Hazlewood is likely to be in Australia's first-choice XI for the World Test Championship final in England in June if the side qualify.

But there is every chance they will play an extra spinner for the three Tests in the West Indies after that, again bringing Hazlewood's spot in the team into question.

More immediately, Hazlewood's injury could have serious ramifications for the rest of the series.

Starc and Cummins bowled 44.5 overs between them in India's first innings at the Gabba, with frequent rain delays softening the blow.

There is a week-long gap between the end of Brisbane and Boxing Day, but only three days between that Test in Melbourne and the series finale in Sydney.

Mitch Marsh's input will therefore likely be crucial in Melbourne, given any strain on the workload of Cummins, Starc or Boland could cause future issues for the quicks.

Beau Webster has been part of Australia's squad for the past two Tests as cover for Marsh, while Sean Abbott and Brendan Doggett have also acted as back up.