The Australian team has suffered a major blow amidst the Ashes 2025 series. Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood is out for the entire Ashes, while on the other hand, team captain Pat Cummins is ready to return from the third Test. This match will be played in Adelaide.
Sports News: Australia has received a significant setback in the Ashes series, with fast bowler Josh Hazlewood being ruled out for the entire series, while captain Pat Cummins is set to return to Test cricket after nearly five months. Hazlewood was struggling with a hamstring strain during the Sheffield Shield last month, and subsequently, he suffered an ankle injury last week, further deteriorating his fitness. Coach Andrew McDonald confirmed that Hazlewood will not be playing against England for the entire summer and will now focus on getting fit for the T20 World Cup in February.
McDonald described the situation as unfortunate, stating that it is extremely disappointing for Hazlewood, who has faced unexpected setbacks. The team believed he would play a significant role in the series, but he will now miss that opportunity.
Josh Hazlewood's Exclusion is a Major Loss for Australia
Josh Hazlewood was recently battling a hamstring injury during the Sheffield Shield. Following that, he sustained an ankle injury, which has prolonged his recovery. Australia's head coach, Andrew McDonald, has confirmed that Hazlewood will not play any Tests against England for the remainder of this summer. McDonald stated,
'This is extremely disappointing for us and for Hazlewood himself. We were hoping he would make a significant impact in the series, but circumstances have not been in our favour.'
Hazlewood's entire focus will now be on getting fit for the T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled for February. In his absence, the sharpness of Australia's fast bowling attack appears to be diminished.
Pat Cummins' Strong Comeback After 5 Months
The biggest relief for the Australian team is that captain Pat Cummins is fully prepared to return for the third Test. Cummins had been sidelined from Test cricket for several months due to a back injury. He last played a Test match in July 2024 during the tour of the West Indies. He was close to being fit for the second Test in Brisbane, but the medical team decided to give him an extra week of rest. Subsequently, last week at Allan Border Field, Brisbane, he bowled long spells to prepare himself for the match.
The team management has full confidence that Cummins will regain his rhythm quickly and strengthen the bowling attack. Additionally, Nathan Lyon is also expected to return for the final three Tests.
Fitness of Mitchell Starc Also Under Scrutiny
The fitness of Mitchell Starc, the most successful bowler of the series, is also being closely monitored. He felt a slight discomfort on his left side during the Gabba Test; however, coach McDonald clarified that he will be available for the Adelaide Test. Considering the increasing workload on the fast bowlers, the team management is contemplating implementing a rotation policy for the fast bowlers. Starc and Scott Boland have both bowled heavy overs consecutively. In such a scenario, either Michael Neser or Brendan Doggett might get an opportunity in the Adelaide Test.
Jhye Richardson, who recently bowled 26 overs for Australia A, could also emerge as a b option for the latter part of the series. His fitness is continuously improving, and the team management might include him if needed.
