Ashes: Massive blow to Australia! Key player ruled out of the 1st Test | Cricket News
Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has been confirmed out of the first Ashes Test in Perth following confirmation of a hamstring injury from a second round of scans on Saturday. Queensland’s Michael Neser has been called up to the first Test squad to provide coverage for both Hazlewood and Sean Abbott, who also sustained a hamstring injury during the Sheffield Shield match between NSW and Victoria at the MCG.
Initial scans on Wednesday had cleared Hazlewood of muscle strain, with Pat Cummins and Steve Smith offering positive assessments of his condition.However, subsequent scans today revealed the extent of the injury.“Early imaging can occasionally underestimate low-grade muscle injuries,” Cricket Australia stated in their release.Both Hazlewood and Abbott will not join the Australian squad’s travel to Perth for the opening match of the five-Test series.Neser, who has two Test matches to his name, made his debut against England at Adelaide Oval in 2021.The five-match series begins at Perth Stadium on November 21, followed by matches at The Gabba, Adelaide Oval, MCG, and concluding at the SCG on January 8.The Australian squad for the first Test includes Steve Smith as captain, along with Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, and Beau Webster.The England team will be led by Ben Stokes, with Harry Brook as vice-captain. Their squad includes Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, and Mark Wood.
