Australia received a major boost ahead of the Ashes opener in Perth as pacer Josh Hazlewood was cleared of any serious injury after undergoing precautionary scans. The right-arm seamer had experienced discomfort during New South Wales’ Sheffield Shield match against Victoria, prompting medical checks.
However, the scans revealed no muscle strain, allowing him to continue training as planned. He will train as planned in the lead-up to the first Test in Perth, a Cricket Australia spokesperson confirmed. Hazlewood’s availability is crucial for Australia, especially with skipper Pat Cummins already sidelined due to a back issue.
Setback For Sean Abbott And Other Injured Pacers
While Hazlewood’s recovery came as good news, Australia suffered a setback as Sean Abbott was ruled out of contention for the first Test after sustaining a moderate-grade left hamstring strain. The Cricket Australia spokesperson stated that Abbott will not be available for selection and that his return-to-play plan will be developed over the coming weeks.
Both Hazlewood and Abbott had been forced to leave the field on day three of the Sheffield Shield fixture, having bowled just nine overs each. The injuries compounded Australia’s bowling challenges, with Lance Morris and Spencer Johnson also unavailable due to fitness concerns. Abbott’s absence leaves Australia with limited seam-bowling options heading into the high-stakes Ashes series opener.
Cummins Provides Update On Fast Bowlers
Test captain Pat Cummins, who is currently recovering from a back issue, offered insights into the situation after visiting the Sydney Cricket Ground. “I was at the SCG. There was a bit happening there for an hour or so. Both had scans. I haven’t got 100 per cent across all the details, but I think Joshy was pretty chipper when he got out. Hopefully, he will be fine. Seany, I’m not so sure about it. I think they’re still assessing.”
The captain acknowledged that both players’ issues involved hamstring concerns and stressed the importance of caution with the Ashes so close. He said, “They were hamstrings. Obviously, a week away from the Test series, you always err on the side of caution, so I think they wanted to see what was happening before pushing it and potentially making it any worse. Hopefully not too much (disruption). Again, we’ll wait and see how it comes out over the next 24 hours. I think Joshy was pretty confident when he walked out, so hopefully it shouldn’t make too much of an issue.”
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