#Ashes #Australia #bowlers #Josh #Hazlewood #Sean #Abbott #suffer #injury #scares #ahead #Test #England #Cricket #News
Australia’s bowling attack has been hit by further injury scares ahead of The Ashes with Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott undergoing hamstring scans.
Captain Pat Cummins (back) will miss the series opener against England in Perth from November 21 and now the hosts are sweating on the fitness of two more pacemen.
Senior man Hazlewood left the field on the third morning of New South Wales’ Sheffield Shield fixture against Victoria in Sydney and did not return after lunch, while Abbott – in Australia’s squad as a back-up option – also trudged off.
Australia captain Pat Cummins stepping up his recovery in a bid to return for the second Ashes Test in Brisbane
Abbott’s injury came after he took three wickets in six balls at the SCG.
Cummins, speaking to Australian broadcaster ABC, gave a fairly optimistic outlook on Hazlewood, saying: “They’ve both got scans.
“I haven’t 100 per cent got across all the details but I think Joshy was pretty chipper when he got out, so hopefully he should be fine. Seany I’m not so sure about, I think they are still assessing.”
Scott Boland – who has taken 49 wickets at an average of 12.63 across nine Tests in Australia – is set to deputise for Cummins in Perth, while the uncapped Brendan Doggett is also in Australia’s party for the first Test.
Brendan Doggett is an option to play for Australia in the first Ashes Test
Doggett took a first-innings five-wicket haul in Tasmania’s three-wicket win over South Australia, with Cummins saying: “He’s been bowling really well the last couple of games, from what I’ve seen.
“He’s really well placed to be vying for a spot in that first Test. It’s always nice having a squad full of people in form, and he certainly is one of those guys.”
Cummins said he bowled at 90 per cent during a training session in Sydney on Tuesday but reiterated that he will not be ready for Perth, with the second Test in Brisbane, a day-nighter from December 4, the earliest the 32-year-old could feature.
Ashes series in Australia 2025-26
All times UK and Ireland
- First Test: Friday November 21 – Tuesday November 25 (2.30am) – Optus Stadium, Perth
- Second Test (day/night): Thursday December 4 – Monday December 8 (4.30am) – The Gabba, Brisbane
- Third Test: Wednesday December 17 – Sunday December 21 (12am) – Adelaide Oval
- Fourth Test: Thursday December 25 – Monday December 29 (11.30pm) – Melbourne Cricket Ground
- Fifth Test: Sunday January 4 – Thursday January 8 (11.30pm) – Sydney Cricket Ground
Recent Comments