MELBOURNE : Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood is unlikely to be fit for the start of the T20 World Cup and may not return until midway through the tournament, injured teammate Pat Cummins said on Tuesday.
Hazlewood, considered one of Australia’s most important bowlers, has been troubled by hamstring and Achilles issues and missed the entire five-test Ashes series against England.
Australia head coach Andrew McDonald said in mid-January that Hazlewood was on track to be available for the team’s World Cup opener against Ireland on February 11, but Cummins offered a more cautious assessment.
“I caught up with Joshy a couple of days ago and he’s working so hard,” Cummins told Australia’s Nine Network. “I really feel for him. He’s had a few setbacks and he’s one of the hardest trainers.
“I don’t think he’ll be there for the start of the tournament, but he’s trying his best to be there about halfway through.”
Australia head into the February 7–March 8 World Cup short of resources, with Mitchell Starc having retired from the format and Cummins himself sidelined by back problems. The team’s preparations were further dented by a 111-run loss to Pakistan that completed a 3-0 series whitewash.
“It wasn’t the series we were hoping for,” Cummins said. “It’s always better when you’re winning, but they’ll shake that one off pretty quickly.”
Cummins, who played only one Ashes test due to lumbar bone stress, said he had run out of time to be ready for World Cup selection.
“We wanted to give the back a little rest to make sure it’s right for what’s going to be a big rest of the year,” he said. “It’s a minor setback. I should be right to go in a few weeks.”
The Australia captain is hoping to return in time to lead Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League, which begins on March 26.
