Former Australian bowler Ryan Harris has fired back at “rubbish” claims from Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar over Josh Hazlewood’s side strain injury, which has sidelined him from the second Test in Adelaide.
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Scott Boland has replaced Hazlewood in Australia’s only change to the starting XI that was comfortably defeated by India in Perth.
Hazlewood made comments during the first Test sparked suggestions of a potential divide in the Australian dressing room, although teammates were quick to dismiss those claims.
But according to Gavaskar, the fact Hazlewood is now unavailable due to injury should be raising eyebrows in the Australian media.
Gavaskar said earlier in the week that the Australian fast bowler’s side strain injury was “strange” and a “mystery”, seemingly hinting his non-selection may instead be connected to his comments during the first Test.
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Travis Head said he was “surprised” to hear that insinuation from Gavaskar while Harris was far more direct, describing it as “rubbish” in an interview with the Indian Express.
“Look, there are no factions. That’s just all garbage,” Harris said.
“I’ve even heard Mr Gavaskar coming out and saying there’s some faction. It’s all rubbish. That doesn’t happen in Australia. I know it happens in India. I’ve lived there.
“There’s no politics and no, you don’t miss a game for saying what he (Hazlewood) said.
“I’ve spoken to a couple of the boys here and everyone’s smart. They just know our media and how they work. The Australian media have jumped on it, because we went so bad in Perth. But you’re allowed to be outplayed.”
Harris went on to stress that he has “all the respect” for Gavaskar, calling him a “legend of the game”.
“He is just throwing a little grenade over here and the media have just got hold of him and are having a feast,” added Harris.
Gavaskar wrote a column for The Age on Friday where he praised Jasprit Bumrah and Ajinkya Rahane for rescuing the series last time India played in Australia before questioning if the hosts can do the same this summer.
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“Do the Aussies have somebody like that in their ranks who can make the players forget the rumblings around them? And boy, are there some loud growls too,” he wrote.
“Drop him, pick that one. Why were runs given easily to Kohli to get him into the century mood? Why was this not tried and that not attempted?
“All kinds of questions are being asked, including the incredibly imbecilic one of why Usman Khawaja didn’t take the first ball in Australia’s second innings. As if that was going to make a difference.”
Hazlewood, who took five wickets in Australia’s 295-run loss at Perth, will remain with the group in Adelaide to prepare for the remainder of the series according to Cricket Australia.
Boland, Hazlewood’s replacement, played the last of his 10 Tests in July 2023 against England at Headingley.
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