Josh Hazlewood’s Test series under a cloud over hamstring

Paceman ruled out of the first Test after scans confirmed a left hamstring strain but will bat if required.

Josh Hazlewood bowls during day 2 of the first Test match between Australia and New Zealand at Optus Stadium in Perth.

Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the first Test after scans confirmed a left hamstring strain but will bat if required.

He will battle to be fit for the Boxing Day or New Year’s Tests but no decision has been made on those matches.

Hazlewood had the figures of 1-0 from eight balls but left the field after sustaining a hamstring injury on the last delivery he bowled.

There is no official word on the result of scans but Hazlewood is understood to be out for the rest of the series.

His absence from the rest of the match levels the playing field somewhat after New Zealand lost Lockie Ferguson after the quick had bowling 11 overs in what was his debut match.

The Kiwis do, however, have the advantage of having picked an all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme who is a handy seam bowler.

Australia were forced to rely on former wicket keeper Matthew Wade who had bowled two overs in his previous 29 matches _ he was keeper in all but seven of those games.

Hazlewood’s absence was more than covered by a hostile spell from Mitchell Starc (4-34) at the start and end of the last session.

Australia were blessed to find themselves bowling just as the light changed in the period of the game where the advantage shifts to the bowler and doubly so if the ball is new.

The cooler evening conditions after two days where the temperature hovered around 40 degrees Celsius was an added bonus.

Starc dismissed Tom Latham in his first over and the Kiwis found themselves 2-1 when Hazlewood picked up Jeet Raval in the difficult early going.

Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor survived the hostile first hour and were looking settled before Williamson was brilliantly caught by Steve Smith at second slip on 34.

There was controversy earlier when Williamson edged a ball to Tim Paine but survived when the Australian’s did not review the decision.

The Kiwi captain had recently received the MCC Spirit of Cricket award for his conduct during the World Cup.

Starc later two wickets in two balls, with Henry Nicholls out caught behind on seven and nightwatchman Neil Wagner bowled for a golden duck.

Ricky Ponting told cricket.com.au that Paine faces a challenge rotating Pat Cummins and Starc for the rest of the match.

“Tim Paine is going to have to think about how he uses his quick men,” Ponting said.

“It’s probably going to have to be really short, sharp spells and Nathan Lyon and Marnus Labuschagne, and probably even Matthew Wade, are going to have to do a fair bit of bowling in the remainder of this game.

“Painey is just going to have to think his way through and try and attack when he can and also be quite defensive when he can as well and try not to leak too many runs with the part-time bowlers that he brings on.

“Even with Nathan Lyon, you can see (New Zealand’s) intent was to get after him early knowing it’s going to be a lot easier scoring off him than it’s going to be off Cummins and Starc.

“Big job ahead for all the Australian bowlers.”

Ferguson’s injury and a similar problem for England’s James Anderson on the first day of the Ashes series.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has promoted the move but there are concerns it would be gamed by teams.

New Zealand are 5-109 in response to Austraia’s 416 with three days of the first Test remaining.