Why is Josh Hazlewood not playing today's 2nd BGT 2024-25 Test?

In a major blow to Australia, Josh Hazlewood won't be in action against India in the second Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Adelaide. Hazlewood picked up a side strain last week and was announced unavailable on November 30.

There has been a lot of speculation around the pacer's injury. Initially, when it was announced, a few home fans suspected that his ouster resulted from his remarks before the final innings of the first Test in Perth when he was asked if the team could chase the 534-run target set by India.

“You probably have to ask one of the batters that question, I’m sort of relaxing and trying to get a little bit of treatment and I am looking mostly to the next Test," Hazlewood had said (via Hindustan Times).

Many Indian and Australian pundits then chimed in, believing there was a rift within the Australian camp. However, Travis Head and Hazlewood's manager came out to vehemently deny the conjectures.

On the eve of the Test, skipper Pat Cummins followed suit.

"The team’s great. Some of the commentators got that 100 per cent wrong,” Cummins said (via Tha Indian Express). “We’ve prepared like we always do and get around each other. It’s a great feeling around the team. We don’t make too much of it.”

“When things don’t go right, there’s enough commentators that will support you but also some that will, of course, create some headlines. We try not to take too much notice of it. We just go about our things," he added.

Josh Hazlewood would be a big miss, especially because the pink-ball Test is at the Adelaide Oval, where he averages a stunning 16.82, the best for any bowler who has picked at least 15 wickets at the venue.

Australia's Playing 11 for the 2nd Test without Josh Hazlewood

Australia replaced Josh Hazlewood with pacer Scott Boland, who has 35 wickets in his first 10 Tests at a brilliant average of 20.30. Although he has played only two competitive games in the last four months due to an ankle injury, India won't want to take his accuracy and nagging wobbled-seam balls lightly.

Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, and Scott Boland.