Australia’s fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the Ashes series after struggling with injuries, head coach Andrew McDonald confirmed. Hazlewood, who missed the opening matches in Perth and Brisbane due to a hamstring strain, suffered a further setback while attempting a comeback, this time affecting the lower calf to Achilles region. McDonald expressed disappointment for Hazlewood, noting that the first-choice paceman would not feature in any of the five-test series against England, despite initially being expected to play a major role.
The injury news for Hazlewood coincided with England confirming that fast bowler Mark Wood would also miss the remainder of the series due to a knee injury. Australia, holding a 2-0 lead, can retain the Ashes with a draw in Adelaide. Regular captain and paceman Pat Cummins, who missed the opening tests due to a lower back injury, has completed match simulations in Brisbane and is expected to return for the next test, with McDonald confident in his readiness both physically and skill-wise.
The series has also seen surprising selection decisions, including the omission of veteran spinner Nathan Lyon for the Brisbane test, his first home appearance since 2012. McDonald acknowledged Lyon’s disappointment but emphasized that the experienced spinner would continue to play a significant role in the remaining matches. Australia’s team is now navigating a mix of injury challenges and strategic changes while maintaining their lead in the Ashes series.
