- Josh Hazlewood succumbs to hamstring injury
Australia‘s fast bowling stocks will be severely tested in the first Ashes Test in Perth after Josh Hazelwood was ruled out on Saturday with a hamstring complaint.
Hazlewood sent a scare through the Australian camp when he tweaked the hamstring in the Sheffield Shield, but was cleared to play on Friday.
Now Channel 7 sports reporter Xander McGuire has reported that Hazelwood has broken down and will not play in Perth.
The 34-year-old reported consistent tightness on Saturday afternoon before he was ultimately ruled out.
‘Josh Hazlewood has officially been ruled out for the first test. Cricket Australia confirmation to come shortly,’ McGuire posted to social media platform X.
‘Initial scans Wednesday were clear of muscle strain however follow-up imaging today has confirmed the injury,’ a Cricket Australia statement read.
Josh Hazlewood has reported been ruled out of the first Ashes Test in Perth this week
Australian skipper Pat Cummins had already been ruled out of the first Test with a back complaint
South Australian seamer Brendan Doggett is set to earn a Test debut following the injuries
‘Early imaging can occasionally underestimate low-grade muscle injuries.’
He joins injured skipper Pat Cummins [back] who was not able to recover from his complaint in time for the first Ashes Test.
And backup seamer Sean Abbott is also unavailable, injuring his hamstring in the same match at Hazlewood.
That leaves Mitchell Starc as the only fit first-choice fast bowler left to take on England this week.
Scott Boland is locked in to replace Cummins, while Brendan Doggett is now in line for a surprise debut with Abbott also injured.
Doggett has produced two five-wicket hauls since returning from a hamstring injury for South Australia and is currently one of the country’s in-form bowlers.
‘He’s been bowling really well the last couple of games from what I’ve seen,’ Cummins said of Doggett.
‘He’s really well placed to be vying for a spot in that first Test. It’s always nice to have a squad full of people in form and he’s certainly one of those guys.’
It is better news for England with pace bowler Mark Wood is expected to recover from his own hamstring complaint to play in the first Test
Queensland all-rounder Michael Neser is expected to be added to the squad as extra cover.
Meanwhile Wood experienced tightness in his left hamstring after bowling his eighth over on the opening day of England’s three-day warm-up match at Lilac Hill on Thursday.
The 35-year-old was playing his first match since undergoing knee surgery in March and the hamstring niggle has raised big doubts about his durability.
But scans have cleared him of any damage, and although Wood isn’t expected to bowl for England on the final day of the warm-up match on Saturday, he will train next week in a bid to prove his fitness for the first Test, starting Friday.
‘Following precautionary scans on Friday, England fast bowler Mark Wood has been cleared of any concerns regarding his left hamstring,’ England said in a statement.
‘He is not expected to feature today – the third day of England’s warm-up match against the Lions XI at Lilac Hill Park, Perth.
‘Wood will continue to train as planned in the build-up to the first Test in Perth.’
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Disaster for Aussies as ANOTHER frontline bowler is ruled out of first Ashes Test in Perth, joining captain Pat Cummins on the sideline