Scotty not play this week after his efforts last week,” captain Pat Cummins said earlier this week.
“I spent about five years sitting on one Test and I hated when people talked about it because I felt like I hadn’t proven anything. He’s bowling as well as he ever has, it’s great that he can keep going from last week.”
Cummins admitted Hazelwood would have been an immediate selection if he was fit for the Sydney Test, starting on January 5, but the quick will now turn his attention to the Day-Night match in Hobart on January 14.
“It’s no secret that if Joshy Hazlewood was available then he was going to play,” Cummins said. “He’s been just a brilliant bowler for us for a long period of time.
“We gave Josh every chance we could, just felt like he couldn’t bowl at full tilt (on Monday). We’re still hoping he’ll be right for Hobart.”
Meanwhile Usman Khawaja has been named to make his return to international Test cricket, coming in for Head – who returned a positive result for COVID-19 last week and was forced into isolation for seven days.
WA pace ace Jhye Richardson was also unable to prove his fitness, while Mitch Swepson was also overlooked for the SCG – with wet weather conditions and a less spin-friendly pitch hampering his chances of a call-up alongside Nathan Lyon.
Fellow WA stars Mitch Marsh and Josh Inglis made the road trip to Sydney as a “precautionary measure”, according to Cricket Australia, following news of Head’s positive result.
But the pair will watch from the sidelines as both allrounder Cameron Green and wicketkeeper Alex Carey retained their spots for the Pink Test.
Australia XI: Marcus Harris, David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
