Josh Hazlewood OUT of Scotland T20Is; replacement announced

In a big blow to Australia, fast bowler Josh Hazlewood will miss the upcoming T20I series against Scotland. However, Hazlewood is expected to be available for the T20Is and ODIs against England later in September.

Josh Hazlewood suffered a calf strain during training last week but his injury is believed to be a minor one. However, the selectors decided to treat his injury with utmost caution given the all-important Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India, which will begin later this year.

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Riley Meredith replaces Josh Hazlewood for the T20Is against Scotland

Josh Hazlewood's injury opened the doors for another Australian quick Riley Meredith to get back into the Australian squad. Meredith last played an international match in 2021. He is a tall right-arm fast bowler capable of bowling at speeds north of 140 kmph regularly and can generate extra bounce from any surface.

Meredith has played 1 ODI and 5 T20Is for Australia. While he is yet to open his account in ODIs, he has already picked up 8 wickets in T20I cricket at an average of 23.50.

The 28-year-old is a genuine wicket-taker but can be expensive at times. He is a regular in the Big Bash League (BBL) for his team Hobart Hurricanes and has enjoyed a good run in the tournament over the years.

Meredith's international call-up can be due to his availability in England in the domestic season, which means he is already acclimatized to the conditions. He has been playing for Somerset recently in white-ball cricket during the English domestic season.

Riley Meredith's recent record in English domestic cricket

In the Vitality T20 Blast, he picked up 14 wickets at an average of 22.78 and six wickets in three Royal London One-Day Cups. Somerset will also play the final of the One-Day Cup.

Meanwhile, Josh Hazlewood is the second fast bowler ruled out of the Australian squad. Before him, left-arm pacer Spencer Johnson was ruled out of the whole tour of the United Kingdom, which includes both Scotland and England tours. Sean Abbott had been called up at his place.

Hazlewood was one of the three big quicks of Australia selected for the whole UK tour. Earlier, Pat Cummins was rested for the whole tour and wasn't selected in any of the squads. On the other hand, Mitchell Starc was only selected for the ODI leg of the England tour.

The three quicks Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood will be crucial to Australia's chances if they aim to regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the end of this year

Australia's tour to the United Kingdom will begin with a T20I series against Scotland in Edinburgh on September 4. After the T20Is against Scotland, they will move to England to play three T20Is and five ODIs against the home team.

Australia squad for Scotland T20Is

Mitchell Marsh (C), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Riley Meredith, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa