Josh Hazlewood is now facing having to watch the entire Ashes series on the sidelines, with the hamstring injury he picked up right before the Perth opener apparently a lot worse than originally presumed.
According to reports from SEN, the Australian fast bowler “could be out for the entire series.”
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The New South Welshman had been deemed nearly okay to play in Perth with early scans suggesting he’d escaped any major strains. But word from around the Australian camp is now leaning more towards him missing out entirely.
The timeline has slowly been blowing out, too. First, the injury was deemed hamstring soreness (which would have had Hazlewood right for the opener) before it was pushed to a hamstring strain. That left him watching Perth from the sheds. Now, medics are suggesting it may well be a tendon injury that he’ll have to rehabilitate for some weeks before he can play.
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It’s a bitter blow considering some Aussie fans had already been expecting Hazlewood to return at the same time as captain Pat Cummins; he’s being tipped to be ready for Brisbane. This Sporting Base writer wouldn’t be surprised if the national selectors and coach Andrew McDonald are simply leaning on the side of caution, though, and want to take their time.
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Australia definitely has that luxury, with Mitch Starc dishing up a world-class two innings in Perth and Hazlewood and Cummins’ replacements Scott Boland and Brendan Doggett more than stepping up to the plate in Test One.
Between them, Dogget and Boland took nine wickets. Starc bowled down another ten.
