Josh Hazlewood to miss Australia vs Scotland T20 2024 series due to injury

The Australian men’s cricket team will be without the services of senior fast bowler Josh Hazlewood for the T20 series against Scotland in September. He will be replaced by Riley Meredith.

The 33-year-old Hazlewood, who has played 51 T20 matches for Australia, sustained a calf strain during training last week. His replacement, Meredith has only played five T20 International matches, the last of which came in 2021.

In the five T20Is that 28-year-old Meredith has played in his career, he has picked up eight wickets at a bowling average of 23.50 and an economy rate of 9.98.

Riley Meredith is currently in the United Kingdom, playing white ball cricket for Somerset.

Hazlewood’s injury is not severe, according to Cricket Australia, and is expected to recover in time following a short period of rehabilitation for the white-ball series against England following the tour of Scotland.

Ahead of last year’s Ashes, Hazlewood had his fair share of struggles with injuries but has largely remained fit since then.

Hazlewood’s frequent bowling partner Pat Cummins opted to skip the tour of Scotland and England in order to focus on strength and conditioning work while team-mate Mitchell Starc will only be involved in the ODIs against England.

Hazlewood is the second Australian fast bowler to get injured ahead of the tour with Spencer Johnson also being ruled out after suffering an injury while playing in the Hundred.

Meredith will join the pace attack of Xavier Bartlett, Sean Abbott and Nathan Ellis for the three T20s against Scotland while all-rounders Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie and Marcus Stoinis along with captain Mitchell Marsh are also expected to chip in.

The first T20I between Australia and Scotland will be held at the Grange Club in Edinburgh on September 4.