After Pat Cummins, another key pacer set to miss SL vs AUS 2025 Test series: Reports

Australia pacer Josh Hazlewood is unlikely to be fit in time for the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. The bowler had sustained an injury midway through the Border-Gavaskar series, causing him to miss the majority of the five-match affair, including the business end in Melbourne and Sydney.

According to a report by the Sydney Morning Herald, the Australian selectors will not take a risk by rushing the pacer back into the mix. The current depth in the pace bowling department, conditions in Sri Lanka, and the fact that Australia have qualified for the World Test Championship (WTC) imply that Hazlewood can take his time to recover completely.

The Men in Yellow arguably did not feel the right-arm pacer's absence recently as Scott Boland fit into the playing XI like a glove. The replacement pacer ran through the Indian batting unit across the three Tests he played, even claiming a ten-wicket haul in the series finale in Sydney.

It is to be noted that skipper Pat Cummins will miss the tour to attend the birth of his child, resulting in a makeshift bowling attack led by Mitchell Starc in Sri Lanka. Australia have the in-form Scott Boland with them, while reserves from the Border-Gavaskar series - Sean Abbott and Jhye Richardson - could also be in contention to round up the pace bowling department.

With Hazlewood not partaking in the Sri Lanka series, he has also been ruled out of the Big Bash League (BBL) 2024-25 in extension, along with four more players (Pat Cummins, Travis Head, Nathan Lyon, and Mitchell Starc).

Australia likely to announce their squad for Sri Lanka series on January 8

The Australian selection unit, led by chairman George Bailey, is expected to meet on Tuesday, January 7 to decide on the squads for both the Test series against Sri Lanka, as well as the 2025 Champions Trophy.

Australia last recorded a series win in Sri Lanka in 2011-12. They secured a 1-0 result in the three-match affair. Since then, they suffered a 0-3 whitewash in 2016 and etched out a 1-1 draw in 2022.

Possible Test squad for Sri Lanka (via Sydney Morning Herald): Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Travis Head, Nathan McSweeney, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Peter Handscomb, Beau Webster, Alex Carey, Sean Abbott, Nathan Lyon, Todd Murphy, Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Jhye Richardson.