Jackson Barrett: Could Josh Hazlewood’s injury be beginning of the end for legendary Australian quartet?

Josh Hazlewood’s calf strain is a cruel blow for the workhorse paceman and a cruel blow for Australia’s greatest-ever quartet of bowlers. The 33-year-old was whisked away from the Gabba on Tuesday in dramatic scenes as teammates worked towards bowling India out twice. By the time he returned to the ground, he had been ruled out of the rest of the match and officials have conceded his series is in doubt. In Melbourne Cricket Ground specialist Scott Boland, Australia has the perfect replacement for the final two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. The Victorian cult figure has already ripped through India’s best batting hopes in Adelaide this month and is a harrowing prospect for the visitors on his home track. But the fresh injury blow does put a cloud over the future of Hazlewood’s famous combination with Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon. No four bowlers have taken more wickets playing together in Test history. But how many more will they take now? Hazlewood is likely to miss the rest of the series and it is just as unlikely they play together for two Tests in Sri Lanka in January, where selectors will be far more inclined to load up on spin support for Lyon than bash-away pacemen. Australia are a fair chance, but not a lock, to play the World Test Championship final in England during the winter and they then travel to the West Indies before next summer’s Ashes. Hazlewood will turn 34 midway through the Sydney Test next month. Starc, who has dominated this series, will be 35 by the time Australia heads to Sri Lanka. Lyon is 37, Cummins is 31. By the time the Test team heads to the Caribbean for three matches across June and July, we will be at a stage where a lot has to go right for the foursome to be getting on the park together for five-day matches. And as much as he has stormed through the door to add to his 11 Tests, Boland himself is 35. Sean Abbott was called on as cover while Boland played for the Adelaide Test and even uncapped Brendan Doggett, who has also spent time with the team, is 31. Selectors admitted before this series there is an element of future-proofing in what they are trying to do. It’s time that extended to our pace stocks — and there are at least two in Western Australia with national contracts and ready for their chance.