Australia has been hit by a major setback ahead of the first Ashes Test against England. Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out due to a hamstring strain, joining captain Pat Cummins on the sidelines.
Hazlewood injured his hamstring during New South Wales’s Sheffield Shield match against Victoria earlier this week. Initial scans suggested no serious damage, but follow-up imaging confirmed the strain. Cricket Australia stated, “Initial scans Wednesday were clear of muscle strain; however, follow-up imaging today has confirmed the injury. As a result, Hazlewood will not travel to Perth and has been ruled out of the first Ashes Test match.”
This is a significant loss for Australia just days before the opening Test in Perth on November 21. Cummins, the Australian captain, has not played since suffering a lower back injury against the West Indies over three months ago. He is aiming to return for the second Test in Brisbane in December.
Reserve fast bowler Sean Abbott is also unavailable due to injury. Michael Neser, who has previously played two Tests, has been called up as cover. With both Hazlewood and Cummins missing, Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland are expected to lead the Australian attack against England. Brendan Doggett is also likely to make his Test debut.
The injuries present a challenge for Australia as they look to start the Ashes on a strong note. The team will rely heavily on Starc and Boland to maintain pressure on the English batsmen, while new faces like Doggett and Neser could provide fresh energy and support.
With the first Test approaching fast, the Australian squad will need to adjust quickly to these key absences. Fans and analysts are watching closely to see how the team adapts under these unexpected circumstances.
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