Perth, Australia – Australia's Ashes preparations have been rocked by the news that Josh Hazlewood will miss the first Test against England due to a hamstring injury. This setback compounds the absence of captain Pat Cummins, leaving the Australian pace attack significantly weakened for the crucial series opener in Perth on November 21.
Hazlewood, 34, reported hamstring tightness during a recent Sheffield Shield match between New South Wales and Victoria. Initial scans were clear, but follow-up imaging revealed a low-grade muscle tear. Cricket Australia confirmed that Hazlewood would not travel to Perth.
"Early imaging can occasionally underestimate low-grade muscle injuries," Cricket Australia said in a statement.
Adding to Australia's woes, Sean Abbott, also named in the original squad, has been ruled out with a hamstring injury sustained in the same Sheffield Shield game. Michael Neser has been added to the squad as cover for both Hazlewood and Abbott.
The absence of Hazlewood and Cummins means that Mitchell Starc is the only frontline seamer available from Australia's first-choice attack. Scott Boland is expected to play, and Brendan Doggett is now in contention for a Test debut.
This is only the second time since 2014 that Australia has played a home Test without both Cummins and Hazlewood. The first Test will be captained by Steve Smith.
England received positive news regarding their own pace attack, with Mark Wood cleared of a hamstring injury. Wood had reported stiffness in his left hamstring during a warm-up game, but scans revealed no injury.
The likely Australian XI for the first Test: Steve Smith (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster.
The England team will be led by Ben Stokes, with Harry Brook as vice-captain. Their squad includes Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, and Mark Wood.
