Josh Hazlewood has sustained a right hamstring injury.
The latest Josh Hazlewood injury update has come as a massive blow for Australia days before the Ashes 2025 opener. The ace pacer will not be available for the opening Test in Perth due to an unfortunate hamstring injury he sustained in the Sheffield Shield.
Hazlewood initially had an injury scare, but scans deemed him fit, and Australia confirmed his availability. However, a second set of scans confirmed a right hamstring injury, which is severe enough to keep him out of action at least for the first game.
This is the third major injury in Australia’s pace department after Pat Cummins (back) and Sean Abbott (left hamstring) were already unavailable for the Ashes 2025 opener. Josh Hazlewood had been playing non-stop competitive cricket across white-ball formats after recent injury issues, as he looked to keep himself fit and in rhythm for a gruelling season.
He participated in the latest Sheffield Shield just to get into the red-ball groove and hardly showed any signs of discomfort before this match. But unfortunately, Hazlewood is hardly far from a fresh injury, and this one comes at the worst possible time for the Aussies, who will need to seriously look at frequent injury concerns to almost all their pacers.
As a fresh Josh Hazlewood injury update broke, Australia have recalled Michael Neser to their Test squad for the Perth game. Neser has been one of the most prolific domestic bowlers in Australia’s circuit, and his presence surely balances the overall quality, even though Hazlewood is still an upgrade.
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He showed encouraging form in the initial three completed Sheffield Shield rounds, with 14 wickets at an average of 24.28 in six innings, including a best of 4/30. Neser was an obvious selection after Hazlewood was ruled out, and in fact, he should have been in the squad anyway.
Meanwhile, Brendan Doggett has increased his chances for an Australia debut now that Hazlewood is also unavailable. He was picked in the squad ahead of Neser, which confirms he is ahead in the pecking order and should get the first chance.
He took 13 wickets at 14.69 runs apiece, including two five-wicket hauls, across four innings in the Sheffield Shield. Still, Australia would want their two premium bowlers back as soon as possible, even though their return date can’t be predicted at this moment.
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