Follow-up scans confirm hamstring injury for Australian quick less than a week out from first Ashes Test with Queenslander Michael Neser added to the squad
Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the opening Ashes Test in Perth after a second set of scans confirmed a hamstring injury.
Michael Neser has been brought into the first Test squad as cover for both Hazlewood and Sean Abbott, who also suffered a hamstring injury during NSW’s Sheffield Shield clash with Victoria at the MCG.
Uncapped South Australia quicker Brendan Doggett now looms as likely to make his Test debut in Perth in Hazlewood’s stead.
If selected, Doggett would become Australia’s third Indigenous men’s Test cricketer, and the Perth Test would mark the first time the Australian men’s Test XI would feature two Indigenous players, with Scott Boland in line to play.
Hazlewood initially had scans on Wednesday that cleared him of any muscle strain and he was given an upbeat prognosis from the likes of Pat Cummins and Steve Smith.
However, follow-up imaging today confirmed the injury. “Early imaging can occasionally underestimate low-grade muscle injuries,” Cricket Australia said in a release.
Neither Hazlewood or Abbott will travel to Perth with the Australia squad for the first match in the five-Test NRMA Insurance series.
Neser has played two Test matches, making his debut against England at Adelaide Oval in 2021.
More to come
2025-26 NRMA Insurance Men’s Ashes
First Test: November 21-25, Perth Stadium, 1:20pm AEDT
Second Test: December 4-8, The Gabba, Brisbane (D/N), 3pm AEDT
Third Test: December 17-21: Adelaide Oval, 10:30am AEDT
Fourth Test: December 26-30: MCG, Melbourne, 10:30am AEDT
Fifth Test: January 4-8: SCG, Sydney, 10:30am AEDT
Australia squad: (First Test only): Steve Smith (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster
England squad: Ben Stokes (c), Harry Brook (vc), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk), Josh Tongue, Mark Wood
