Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has expressed optimism about featuring in the later stages of the Ashes, even as he continues to recover from the hamstring injury that sidelined him from the opening matches. After scans confirmed a right hamstring issue picked up during a Sheffield Shield fixture for New South Wales shortly before the first Test in Perth, he was ruled out of the series opener.
He was also omitted from the squad for the day-night second Test at the Gabba, with Australia sticking with an unchanged lineup. Despite these setbacks, Hazlewood managed to bowl with the red ball during a net session in Sydney this week, raising hopes of a possible comeback once the series reaches its concluding stages.
He acknowledged that assessing his exact recovery timeline remains difficult, saying, “It’s coming along slowly. I’ll have another bowl today; I just started the other day. Running and everything’s going well.” The pacer added that head coach Andrew McDonald was realistic about his potential return window, noting, “It’s probably tough to put a timeline on it. I think ‘Ron’ (Australian coach Andrew McDonald) probably nailed it the other day — play a part in the back end, hopefully. Hopefully it’s not still in the balance, hopefully we’re on top by then.”
Cummins Shows Progress As Possible Return Nears
While Hazlewood focuses on regaining full fitness, he also shared an encouraging update on fellow fast bowler and Australian captain Pat Cummins. Although Cummins was initially expected to return for the Brisbane Test beginning December 4, selectors opted to give him an additional two weeks to ensure complete recovery.
Hazlewood revealed that Cummins has been steadily improving, saying, “He’s been ticking a lot of boxes the last few weeks. I saw him bowl on Tuesday with the pink ball; everything was going pretty well.” Cummins’ training intensity has reportedly increased, with the skipper bowling at full pace to Steve Smith for more than an hour during a Friday session at the SCG. This followed another rigorous practice earlier in the week at NSW’s Cricket Central facility, indicating strong momentum toward a potential comeback.
Eyes On Adelaide As Australia Manages Key Injuries
With Cummins targeting a return for the third Test in Adelaide starting December 17, Australia’s management continues to carefully balance player workload and recovery timelines. Though Hazlewood is unlikely to feature before the latter part of the series, his recent progress—coupled with Cummins’ improving condition—provides positive signs for the squad. As the Ashes progress, both bowlers’ returns could significantly influence Australia’s bowling strength in the decisive final encounters.
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