Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the first Ashes Test after a second scan revealed a low-grade tear in his hamstring. The injury was initially reported during the Sheffield Shield match between New South Wales and Victoria, and follow-up imaging confirmed the strain.
Hazlewood's absence is a significant blow for Australia, who are already without captain Pat Cummins due to lumbar bone stress. Mitchell Starc remains the only frontline seamer available for the series opener starting on 21 November. Sean Abbott, who also injured his hamstring in the same match, has been ruled out, with Michael Neser added to the squad as cover.
In contrast, England received positive news as Mark Wood was cleared of any hamstring concerns after precautionary scans. Wood reported stiffness in his left hamstring during the warm-up match against the Lions, but scans showed no damage, allowing him to continue training as planned.
Wood's fitness is a relief for England, who have identified express pace as key to Ashes success. Teammate Brydon Carse praised Wood's resilience, noting his ability to overcome setbacks throughout his career. Meanwhile, England's Lions tour suffered a blow as Rehan Ahmed was ruled out with a right lower leg strain and has returned home.
