The Ashes 2025: Fears Josh Hazlewood will miss entire Ashes series with hamstring injury
There are fears Josh Hazlewood’s hamstring injury could be more serious than first thought, with a cloud now hanging over whether he will be able to play any part in the Ashes series.
There are fears Josh Hazlewood’s hamstring injury could be more serious than first thought, with a cloud now hanging over whether he will be able to play any part in the Ashes series.
Cricket Et Al reported that there are concerns Hazlewood’s hamstring could in fact be a tendon injury – a much more serious diagnosis which would lengthen his period on the sidelines.
It comes as Pat Cummins admitted during a stint of commentary on Kayo Sports that he was only “half a chance” to return from his back stress injury for the second Test in Brisbane.
It’s been a bizarre roller coaster ride for Hazlewood, who initially felt he’d been cleared of any issue at all when an initial scan showed no evidence of a hamstring injury after he complained of feeling tight in NSW’s Sheffield Shield match against Victoria.
However, a follow-up scan three days later showed there was in fact a hamstring strain there and Hazlewood was ruled out of the first Test.
Now there are fears that Hazlewood could be dealing with a tendon issue, as first revealed by Cricket Et Al.
Australia’s bowling depth is being severely tested, with Pat Cummins no guarantee of returning for the second Test at the Gabba.
Fox Cricket and Kayo expert Mark Waugh said it was imperative that Australia resist the urge to rush Cummins back, regardless of all factors like Hazlewood’s unavailability and the result of the first Test.
“I don’t think they should be rushing him (Cummins) back,” Waugh said.
“I think he’s got to be pretty much to 100 per cent to be playing. It’s still a long summer.
“It’s a five Test series not a three Test series. You rush him back, he pulls up sore and he doesn’t play the last three Tests. What’s the point of that?
“I think they’ve just got to be smart. He’ll know his body better than anybody. He’ll make the decision, won’t he. He knows what he needs.”
Cummins said on Kayo Sports he was progressing well with his recovery but he will not play in Brisbane unless he is completely satisfied he has built up the bowling loads required.
“It’s feeling good,” Cummins told Kayo Sports’ Ashes live coverage.
“I had a couple of good sessions in Perth this week, so having a big day where I’d bowl around 10 overs then a couple of quieter day and then going again.
“It’s on track and pulling up pretty well.
(I’m) half a chance for the next game.
“I’ll have a couple more bowls and then there could be about two weeks before the next one the way this one is going.
“I’m pretty hopeful and it’s probably better than it was a few weeks ago.
“It’ll be a collaboration between myself and the physios, the selectors and the doctors.
“There’s a few things at play, and obviously I’m not coming off a lot of cricket so you want to get a bit of a feel, have a look at the wicket and work out how you think the game may pan out and make a decision.
“If I don’t want to play, no one is going to put me in that position.”
A brilliant second innings comeback from Scott Boland in Perth has at least alleviated concerns Australia may have their hand forced on rolling the dice with Cummins in Brisbane.
Australia have been confident for a couple of weeks now that Cummins will be fit to be considered for the Gabba Test but there has also been a strong feeling behind the scenes that the ideal scenario would be to wait until the third Test in order to give him longer to build up his bowling loads.
West Australian quick Jhye Richardson has only bowled seven overs for the Cricket Australia XI against the England Lions, suggesting he may still need further matches under his belt before he becomes a genuine consideration for an Ashes entry.
More Coverage
Originally published as The Ashes 2025: Fears Josh Hazlewood will miss entire Ashes series with hamstring injury
Poms mocked, Stokes pic is absolutely brutal
