Australia have been dealt a major blow ahead of the Ashes opener in Perth, with Josh Hazlewood ruled out after follow-up scans confirmed a hamstring injury. The setback comes just three days after initial imaging cleared him during New South Wales’ Sheffield Shield clash at the SCG, raising fresh concerns over Australia’s pace stocks.
Hazlewood will not travel to Perth, prompting selectors to call up Queensland seamer Michael Neser, while Sean Abbott has also been sidelined with a hamstring injury. With Pat Cummins already ruled out of the first Test due to a back issue, the door is now wide open for South Australia quick Brendan Doggett, who is edging towards a long-awaited Test debut.
Cricket Australia noted that early scans can underestimate low-grade injuries, confirming Hazlewood’s unavailability in a Saturday statement. The veteran seamer, sitting on 295 Test wickets, had been in superb rhythm through the India white-ball series and his recent Shield outing, but tightness after a spell on day three triggered further checks.
Hazlewood’s absence means Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland shoulder even more responsibility in the opening Test. Doggett, who has taken 13 wickets in his last two matches, could become the third Indigenous man to play Test cricket for Australia—potentially forming a historic duo alongside Boland.
Cummins, meanwhile, has increased his bowling workload and is targeting a return in Brisbane, though he admits it remains a tight deadline. With Jhye Richardson and Xavier Bartlett also being monitored, Australia’s fast-bowling depth is being stretched to its limits before a ball is bowled in the Ashes.
