Sydney: Veteran Australia pace bowler Josh Hazelwood ruled out of the second Ashes test in Adelaide with a side injury and has returned home ahead of the first pink-ball Test of the series.
Cricket Australia (CA) said on Monday that Hazlewood has headed home to Sydney for scans and did not travel with the rest of the team to Adelaide further assessment and rehabilitation with a decision on his fitness for the Boxing Day Test (Melbourne, December 26) to be made soon. The second test, a day-nighter, starts on Thursday.
“Hazlewood returned to Sydney for further assessment and rehabilitation,” Cricket Australia said.
#Ashes Update | Josh Hazlewood will miss the second Vodafone Ashes Test in Adelaide with a side injury.
He returned to Sydney yesterday afternoon for further assessment and rehabilitation with a decision on his fitness for the Boxing Day Test to be made in due course.
— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) December 12, 2021
Hazelwood picked up the key wickets of Dawid Malan and Joe Root within his first three overs in the first test at the Gabba in Australia’s dominating nine-wicket win against Joe Root’s England in the opening Ashes Test at Brisbane. The pacer currently sits third on the ICC Test bowling rankings.
Hazlewood’s absence will be a big loss for Australia in the day-night Test. The cricket Australia (CA) selection panel will likely choose between Queensland’s Michael Neser and Western Australia’s Jhye Richardson as Hazlewood’s replacement. No official announcement has been made on his replacement for the Adelaide Test yet.
