Ahead of the much-anticipated Ashes Test series, Australia received a severe blow as star pacer Josh Hazlewood was ruled out of the first match. The pacer has sustained a hamstring strain and will not participate in the series opener.
He sustained the injury during the Sheffield Shield match between New South Wales and Victoria this week.
He was initially given the all-clear after a scan, but repeat imaging confirmed the strain. “Initial scans Wednesday were clear of muscle strain however follow-up imaging today has confirmed the injury,” Cricket Australia said. “As a result, Hazlewood will not travel to Perth and has been ruled out of the first Ashes Test match.”
Along with Hazlewood, skipper Pat Cummins will also miss out on the series opener. Cummins is still recovering from his injury. He has not played since picking up a lower back injury against the West Indies more than three months ago. In his absence, stalwart batsman Steve Smith will take over the leadership duties.
Cummins will likely feature in the second Test match.
The first Test match of the Ashes series is scheduled to be played at the Optus Stadium in Perth from November 21.
Reserve fast bowler Sean Abbott is also an injury casualty, with Michael Neser, who has played two Tests, called up on Saturday as cover. With Hazlewood and Cummins both absent, Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland will lead the attack against England, with Brendan Doggett looking likely to make his debut
On the other hand, star batsman Marnus Labuschagne has emerged as the top run-scorer in the Sheffield Shield. In four matches, he has scored 402 runs, with an average of 67, including two centuries and a half-century.
Before the first Test match against England, there will be discussions about whether to send Labuschagne or Cameron Green at the number three spot. Green has also started to bowl and will be looked at as a long-term number three option.
The Ashes: Full Squads
Australia`s squad (first Test only): Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster.
England`s squad: Ben Stokes (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Mark Wood.
(With AFP Inputs)