Cricket Australia has issued an important medical update on Usman Khawaja, Josh Hazlewood and captain Pat Cummins before the second Test of the Ashes 2025-26 at The Gabba. Despite an emphatic eight-wicket win over England in the Perth opener, the Australian management now finds itself waiting anxiously for medical clarity. What should have been a smooth preparation has been disrupted by a trio of fitness concerns that have forced head coach Andrew McDonald and the selectors into uncertainty.
Hazlewood Ruled Out Again; Cummins Nearing Return
Josh Hazlewood, who missed the first Test due to a hamstring problem suffered during the Sheffield Shield, has been ruled out of the Day-Night encounter in Brisbane as well. Although his initial scan showed no major damage, the discomfort remains, and the team is not ready to push him early. McDonald shared that Hazlewood is only in the opening stages of rehabilitation and will continue treatment in Brisbane.
He added, “He’s working through the first week of his rehab. I’m not sure that we need to give an update on that. Once he gets further down the track and we have some rough timelines, then we’ll be in a position to communicate that. I know that he’ll be available at some point during the series. We’ve got a little bit of that early rehab to go through to formulate where he may plug into the series, but we expect him to take some part in the series.”
Pat Cummins, on the other hand, is edging close to full fitness. His strong bowling stints in Perth impressed the staff, but the unexpectedly early finish of the Test meant his scheduled workload session on Day 4 could not take place. McDonald emphasised that while Cummins looks sharp and energetic, the team will reassess him once they regroup. He explained, “Once we see him again, we’ll be able to then join the dots as to what that potentially looks like.”
He further stated that while signs are encouraging, they will not rush him, adding, “There’s a lot of positives, but now it’s just really building that resilience within the soft tissue and making sure that we’re not putting him in harm’s way in terms of accelerating it too much and But it will be a genuine discussion leading into this Test match. That may be one that eventuates late for us. A little bit to work through, but it’s nearing completion, which is really, really positive.”
Khawaja’s Back Spasm Sparks Major Worry
Usman Khawaja’s sudden back spasm has become the biggest talking point in the camp. He batted only once in Perth, dropped a slip catch, and then walked off visibly uncomfortable. McDonald admitted that the incident raised alarms because Khawaja had never experienced a back issue throughout his career. With nearly a week before the team gathers, the staff is hoping for clarity and improvement.
The coach explained that spasms usually indicate an underlying cause, saying, “We get to camp in six days’ time. It’s a long way out, there’s a lot of information to gather between now and then, and hopefully, Usman is fit and available for selection. I think anytime you spasm, it’s a result of something going on in your back.”
McDonald added that the further scans are precautionary, remarking, “So, I think that further investigation is just due diligence around that. You spasm for a reason. He hasn’t had it before, so that’s what will probably entail a bit more further investigation. My gut feeling is that it should be okay, but as I said, we’ll wait for that information to present.”
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