Australia head coach Andrew McDonald provides key updates, pacer Josh Hazlewood is out of the Ashes due to injury.
Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the ongoing Ashes after suffering both hamstring and Achilles injuries. The right-arm pacer had already missed Australia’s opening two matches – dominant eight-wicket victories in Perth and Brisbane – amid hopes of returning later in the five-Test series. However, head coach Andrew McDonald confirmed on Tuesday that Hazlewood will no longer feature in the Ashes and will instead focus on recovering in time for the T20 World Cup scheduled for early next year.
“He’ll be out of the series and his preparation will then shift toward the World Cup, which is an incredibly important campaign for us,” McDonald said. “It’s really flat for him. A couple of setbacks we didn’t see coming — we thought he’d play a huge part in the series.”
For the past ten years, Hazlewood has been a key member of Australia’s frontline bowling attack.
There is better news for captain Pat Cummins, who is expected to return for the third Test in Adelaide starting December 17 after missing the first two Tests with a back injury.
The 32-year-old fast bowler has increased his training workload at Allan Border Field in Brisbane while Australian have been playing the second Test against England at the Gabba,
When the squad for the upcoming match is announced on Wednesday, Cummins is expected to be reinstated as captain. In his absence, Steve Smith has been leading the Australia XI.
“We feel as though he’ll be as best prepared as can be,” McDonald said. “Us seeing him further advanced, we feel he’ll be really well placed for the challenges of Adelaide.
“We feel as though the simulation in the nets has got him skill ready. His body’s ready to go. Barring anything else happening in the next week, I’d be expecting Pat to be tossing the coin and putting the blazer on.”
The struggling England side is taking a short break this week to rest and recover in one of Australia’s popular beach towns. They must win in Adelaide to keep their hopes of winning the Ashes alive.
The Melbourne Cricket Ground will host the fourth Test on Boxing Day, followed by the fifth Test in Sydney starting January 4. England have not won an Ashes Test in Australia since the 2010-11 series.
Mitchell Starc, the only member of Australia’s bowling attack to feature in both of the first two Tests, is currently the standout performer of the series with 18 wickets and two consecutive man-of-the-match awards.
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