Australia has suffered a major blow ahead of the opening Ashes Test in Perth, with fast bowler Josh Hazlewood ruled out due to a hamstring strain. Hazlewood left New South Wales’s Sheffield Shield match against Victoria on Wednesday after complaining of tightness, and while initial scans suggested no serious damage, further tests confirmed a low-grade strain.
Cricket Australia confirmed Hazlewood will not travel to Perth, joining captain Pat Cummins on the sidelines and leaving Australia’s bowling stocks heavily depleted. The absence of two frontline quicks has forced selectors to call up Queensland’s Michael Neser, who replaces both Hazlewood and Sean Abbott, the latter also sidelined with injury earlier this week.
Neser, who has played two Tests, is now in contention to return to the XI, while Brendan Doggett looms as a possible debutant at Perth Stadium. The reshuffle highlights Australia’s growing injury concerns just as the high-profile series gets underway.
In contrasting news for England, speedster Mark Wood has been cleared of his own hamstring injury, strengthening their pace attack ahead of the first Test.
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