Australia’s Ashes 2025/26 hopes have been dealt an early blow with the news that Josh Hazlewood will miss the opening Test in Perth because of a hamstring injury. It comes just days after Hazlewood was initially cleared following a scan during New South Wales’ Sheffield Shield match against Victoria. He is another addition to Australia’s already complicated injury list, joining another casualty in Pat Cummins, who was also ruled out for the first Test and further tests the team’s pace-bowling depth.
Josh Hazlewood’s Injury: Impact on Ashes 2025/26
Experienced Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood won’t make the trip to Perth for the first Ashes Test, with a hamstring injury confirmed after follow-up scans. That’s after initial scans last week had cleared him of any muscle strain, only for further imaging to reveal a more serious problem.
Hazlewood had been in excellent form, bowling impressively in white-ball games against India and then in his Sheffield Shield return. He pulled out of the latter game after complaining of hamstring tightness as a precautionary measure, with initial scans revealing no significant damage.
Hazlewood’s absence means Australia have a hole in their pace attack for the first Test, after already missing their premier fast bowler Pat Cummins as he recovers from a back injury. The Ashes 2025/26 are going to be tough for Australia without two critical fast-bowling mainstays, especially in the high-intensity opening match.
Michael Neser Added to Squad: Latest on Australia’s Injury Crisis
Following Josh Hazlewood’s unavailability, Queensland fast bowler Michael Neser has been included in the Ashes squad for Australia. Neser has played two Tests for Australia and now has the chance for a much bigger role in the series, coming into the squad for Hazlewood, which further highlights the injury issue with Australia’s pace bowlers.
Read More
Also, South Australia quick Brendan Doggett could debut in Perth. Doggett is in good touch, with 13 wickets in his last two matches, and would become the third Indigenous cricketer in the Australian men’s Test team, following Scott Boland. His inclusion would be a historic moment, the first time in history that two Indigenous players have featured in the same men’s Test XI.
The Strain on Australia’s Pace-Bowling Depth
Australia’s bowling unit is under a great deal of strain going into Ashes 2025/26. Pat Cummins has already been ruled out of the opening Test as he works on his recovery from a back injury. While he has been working well, doing 90% intensity in the nets, he is targeting the second Test in Brisbane for his return. For now, however, that is very much a race against time as Cummins works to get back to full fitness.
With both Hazlewood and Cummins out, Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland will carry most of the workload in the fast bowling department in the first Test; both will be significant to Australia’s hopes. But with further injury pressures, those options are diminishing for Australia. Jhye Richardson, who is on the mend from shoulder surgery, may become an option later in the series, as could Xavier Bartlett.
Read More
Hazlewood’s Ashes Legacy and Impact on Australia’s Campaign
The absence of Josh Hazlewood is a huge setback for Australia in its Ashes 2025/26 campaign. The fast bowler, who has 295 Test wickets to his name, has been a major component of Australia’s attack over the past decade. H
e had been showing good form leading into the Ashes; he had bowled superbly in the recent white-ball matches and was also bowling well in domestic cricket. His injury now requires Australia to turn to other, less experienced options at least for the first Test.
Although Australia has been able to win Tests without both Cummins and Hazlewood, including victories against England and the West Indies, this new challenge stretches the depth of the side to what could be its limits. Without Hazlewood and Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland have to take on greater roles as potential newcomers Doggett and Neser wait to seize the moment.
The Bigger Picture: England’s Injury Concerns While Australia deals with its pace-bowling woes, England has also been monitoring injury concerns, with Mark Wood reporting hamstring tightness during the warm-up match against the Lions in Perth. But then Wood was cleared with no serious damage reported. This brings an element of uncertainty as both sides look to keep their strike bowlers fit through the tour.
ALSO READ: Shubman Gill Retires Hurt With Neck Injury In 1st IND vs SA Test
