Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the first Ashes Test in Perth due to a hamstring strain injury.
Injured Josh Hazlewood out of first Test
Hosts Australia have been dealt a blow ahead of the Perth Test against England as Hazlewood’s hamstring injury has ruled him out of the first match. He felt some tightness in his right hamstring during New South Wales’ Sheffield Shield game against Victoria and was taken for scans on Wednesday, November 12.
Though Cricket Australia initially cleared him for training after an initial check-up, he has now been rendered unfit to play in Perth due to a strain injury, which was detected after follow-up scans. He had returned figures of 0-54 and 1-22 across the two innings of the Sheffield Shield game.
This compounds Australia’s problems as captain Pat Cummins is also set to miss the Test, with Steve Smith to lead in his absence. Sean Abbott has been ruled out of the Perth Test due to a hamstring issue as well. Michael Neser has been added to the squad as cover for Hazlewood and Abbott.
Hazlewood was in fine form during the recent white-ball leg against India, picking up six wickets across three ODIs and two T20Is. Notably, the 34-year-old had missed a major chunk of the last home Ashes as well, playing only the first Test in Brisbane, where he picked up three wickets.
During the 2023 Ashes in England, Hazlewood picked up 16 wickets in four Tests. Overall, he has picked up 76 wickets in 18 Tests against England.
Michael Neser, on the other hand, last played a Test in 2022, which came almost a year after his debut in the format. Notably, his Test debut was against England during the 2021-22 Ashes, when he returned figures of 1-28 and 1-33 across the two innings, after replacing an injured Hazlewood.
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