In what might come as a major blow to Australia’s hopes of retaining the Ashes, there are chances that Josh Hazlewood might be unavailable for action till next year, which rules him out of the coveted five-match series, according to reports. He missed the first Test in Perth, but Mitchell Starc bowled match-winning spells.
But as per Cricket Et Al ’s Pete Lalor, what appeared to be hamstring soreness for Hazlewood during last week’s Sheffield Shield game and was later thought to be a strain may be a tendon injury.
Lalor later said on Seven, “If the whispers I am hearing about Hazlewood are accurate and the worst plays out, we might not see him again for the rest of the series.”
“There are significant concerns around Josh Hazlewood’s availability
beyond Brisbane. Good judges say the hamstring is worse than first thought. Nobody can say with any certainty that he will play at all this series,” SEN’s Tom Morris tweeted on Sunday afternoon.
There’s significant concerns around Josh Hazlewood’s availability beyond Brisbane.
Good judges say the hamstring is worse than first thought. Nobody can say with any certainty that he will play at all this series. @SEN_Cricket @1116sen
— Tom Morris (@tommorris32) November 23, 2025
Meanwhile, there is no guarantee yet of regular skipper Pat Cummins’ availability for the second Test in Brisbane. He has said that he would not rush back to feature in Brisbane if he isn’t ready.
‘It is feeling good. I had a couple of good sessions in Perth this week, so having a big day where I would bowl around 10 overs, then a couple of quieter days and then going again,” Cummins said while speaking on Kayo Sports.
“It is on track and pulling up pretty well. (I am) half a chance for the next game. I will have a couple more bowls and then there could be about two weeks before the next one, the way this one is going,” Cummins added.
