Struggling with a hamstring strain, Australia pacer Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the second Test of the ongoing series against New Zealand in Melbourne starting Boxing Day, confirmed head coach Justin Langer. 

Hazlewood pulled out of his ninth delivery in the first innings of the first Test in Perth and didn't take the field again. Scans then revealed he had suffered a "low-grade" hamstring tear and won't be able to bowl again in the game. 

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The selectors are likely to replace Hazlewood with one of James Pattinson and Michael Neser, who have been waiting in the wings. 

"Without doubt, 'Patto' (Pattinson) and Michael Neser, they'll be in the squad 100 per cent and we'll look whether we replace Josh with another fast bowler," Langer said. 

"The obvious one would be Peter Siddle actually. He did a really good job in the Ashes, he's bowling very well for Victoria and it's at the MCG where he's played a lot of cricket."

"We'll see what happens the rest of this game and then make a decision. Anyone who knows Patto, you've never seen energy like it."

"He's got the drive. He's said after his back surgery he'll do anything to play Test cricket again. It's a real credit he's got back to that. Being a Boxing Day Test he'll be jumping out of skin to play."

While it hasn't yet come down to that, it is likely Hazlewood won't be available to be picked in Sydney for the New Year's Test either. 

"Looking at that I reckon it could be his summer over," former skipper Ricky Ponting said. "Just looking at his reaction you could tell he thinks it's quite a serious one."

"The three New Zealand Test matches aren't that far apart so we'll keep our fingers crossed and hope it's not too serious. It's a huge blow in the game for the Aussies."

Hazlewood has been injury-prone for a while; he didn't play the World Cup in UK because of a shoulder issue and had to wait until the Ashes to make a comeback. 

(Inputs from Reuters)