Australian selectors are likely to err on the side of caution by leaving Josh Hazlewood out of the Test tour of Sri Lanka, while several stars have been ruled out of the Big Bash due to workload management.
Hazlewood, who missed the last two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar series after injuring his calf during the third Test at the Gabba, said last month he was targeting a return for Australia’s first tour of Sri Lanka since 2022.
However, according to multiple sources with knowledge of selection speaking on the condition of anonymity, Hazlewood is “unlikely” to play the red-ball matches in Sri Lanka.
The fact Australia have already qualified for the World Test Championship final – against South Africa at Lord’s in June – means selectors don’t need to rush Hazlewood back into the XI for the two fixtures against Sri Lanka.
Hazlewood might have struggled to get …