MELBOURNE: Australia’s preparations for the opening Ashes Test in Perth have been dealt another major setback after fast bowler Josh Hazlewood was ruled out on Saturday due to a hamstring injury, further depleting a bowling unit already missing captain Pat Cummins.
Hazlewood had undergone scans following a domestic match at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday, where he experienced discomfort. Although early imaging suggested no strain and he was initially set to travel, subsequent tests confirmed a hamstring injury for the 34-year-old.
“Early imaging can occasionally underestimate low-grade muscle injuries,” Cricket Australia said in a statement. “As a result, Hazlewood will not travel to Perth and has been ruled out of the first Ashes Test match.”
Michael Neser has been drafted into the squad as cover for Hazlewood and Sean Abbott. The all-rounder, who has featured in two Tests—against England in 2021 and the West Indies in 2022—has taken seven wickets in his brief red-ball career.
Hazlewood’s absence also opens the door for a potential Test debut for 31-year-old Brendan Doggett, who is now likely to feature in the attack for the series opener.
With Cummins sidelined and Hazlewood now unavailable, Australia face a challenging start to their Ashes campaign as they scramble to reinforce their pace stocks ahead of the clash with England.
