Australia opening bowler Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the first Ashes Test in Perth with a hamstring injury.
The news is a huge blow for the hosts, who begin their defence of the urn against England on Friday and have already lost captain Pat Cummins (back) and Sean Abbott (hamstring) from their bowling attack for the opening game at the Optus Stadium. Michael Neser has been added to the Australia squad as a result, with Brendan Doggett now in line for a surprise Test debut in Perth.
Hazlewood, 34, pulled up on Wednesday during Sheffield Shield duty for New South Wales against Victoria in Sydney.
Cricket Australia stated later that day that Hazlewood would join up with the squad in Perth as planned after initial scans ruled out a muscle injury. But, come Saturday lunchtime, they confirmed the fast bowler had undergone further tests after complaining of continuing stiffness in his hamstring and that he would not feature in the first Test.
A Cricket Australia statement continued: “Initial scans Wednesday were clear of muscle strain. However, follow-up imaging has confirmed the injury. Early imaging can occasionally underestimate low-grade muscle injuries.”
Stand-in Neser will cover the gap left by Hazlewood and Abbott, who suffered hamstring strains in the same match at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Neser was already in Perth with Queensland, as they endured a narrow defeat to Western Australia at the WACA in a game that finished on Friday.
The 35-year-old made his second and most recent Test appearance against the West Indies at Adelaide in December 2022. His debut came against England — also in Adelaide — a year earlier.
Michael Neser bowling for Queensland against Western Australia at the WACA this week (Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Mitchell Starc will now be expected to lead Australia’s bowling attack in Perth alongside Scott Boland.
Cricket Australia chief selector George Bailey had previously indicated Cummins could return for the second, day-night Test in Brisbane early next month. However, it may prove that that the third Test in Adelaide is more realistic. Steve Smith captains the side in his absence.
Meanwhile, England saw their own injury fears allayed for paceman Mark Wood. Precautionary scans on his left hamstring on Friday came back clear, according to the England camp, and he is set to train as usual ahead of the first Test.
Wood bowled eight overs on Thursday, the opening day of England’s solitary warm-up match against England Lions — their B team — at Lilac Hill Park on the outskirts of Perth, before leaving the field with the issue.
It was Wood’s first public runout since undergoing knee surgery after injuring medial ligaments in the Champions Trophy in February.
Rehan Ahmed has been ruled out of the remainder of the England Lions tour of Australia due to a right lower-leg strain. Ahmed will fly back to the UK on Saturday to begin his recovery.