Australia's Hazlewood Out Of First Ashes Test

Josh Hazlewood has been ruled retired of nan first Ashes Test, leaving Australia's gait bowling earnestly depleted for nan bid opener against England successful Perth.

Hazlewood had initially been cleared aft suffering a hamstring problem playing for New South Wales connected Wednesday, but further scans person revealed a musculus strain.

Captain and gait spearhead Pat Cummins had already been ruled retired of nan first Test pinch a backmost problem and Hazlewood's absence intends 2 of Australia's 'big three' will miss retired astatine Optus Stadium.

The remaining personnel of Australia's first-choice gait trio, Mitchell Starc, will beryllium joined successful nan XI by Scott Boland, pinch Brendan Doggett now successful statement for a Test debut.

Fellow seamer Michael Neser has been added to nan Australia squad arsenic cover.

Neser has played 2 Tests, but nary since 2022. At 35, he is different personnel of nan Australia squad successful his mid-30s.

The news of Hazlewood's absence comes connected nan aforesaid time England gait bowler Mark Wood was cleared of his ain hamstring problem.

Hazlewood, who has taken 295 wickets successful 76 Tests, was constricted to only 1 quality successful Australia's past location Ashes 4 years agone because of a broadside injury.

While Cummins is thought to beryllium connected way to play successful nan 2nd Test successful Brisbane, wherever he would reclaim nan captaincy from Steve Smith, location is nary denotation of Hazlewood's position beyond Perth.

A connection from Australia said: "Josh Hazlewood underwent repetition imaging that has confirmed a hamstring strain injury.

"Initial scans connected Wednesday were clear of musculus strain, nevertheless follow-up imaging has confirmed nan injury. Early imaging tin occasionally underestimate low-grade musculus injuries.

"As a result, Hazlewood will not recreation to Perth and has been ruled retired of nan first Ashes Test match."

Along pinch Cummins, back-up seamer Sean Abbott had already been ruled retired of nan first Test because of his ain hamstring injury.

Spencer Johnson and Lance Morris, some tin of precocious pace, are semipermanent absentees.

Neser, already successful Perth aft playing successful nan Sheffield Shield for Queensland successful nan past week, gets nan telephone up of Fergus O'Neill.

Jhye Richardson, who won nan past of his 3 Test caps against England 4 years ago, is different action later successful nan bid aft recovering from enarthrosis surgery.

Richardson will proceed his comeback for a Cricket Australia XI against England Lions adjacent weekend.