Australia vs New Zealand: Josh Hazlewood To Miss Rest Of Pink Ball Test With Hamstring Injury
Published - 14 Dec 2019, 01:30 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:02 AM
Australia have been dealt a massive blow to their bowling set up as fast bowler Josh Hazlewood will no longer swing his arms in the rest of the ongoing first Test against New Zealand. The right-arm fast pacer picked up an injury in his ninth delivery in the final session of Day Two at the Perth Stadium and had to leave the field immediately. After that, he did not take the field again.
Cricket Australia on Saturday announced that Josh Hazlewood sustained a hamstring strain and added that the pacer will not return to bowl again in the Test match. He is a doubtful starter for the rest of the three-match Test series. It has been learnt that Hazlewood’s recovery will be monitored in the coming weeks.
“Overnight MRI [scans] confirmed a left hamstring strain. He will not bowl for the remainder of this test, may bat if required. Recovery to be monitored in coming weeks,” CA spokesman said according to cricket.com.au.
“It’s a little bit sore this morning. I obviously knew as soon as I did it there was a tear there. It’s not too bad so we’ll play it by ear over the next couple of weeks. Bowlers know their bodies pretty well these days so we know when something is not quite right. The best thing to do was to come off and get it checked out. The ball was coming out really nicely and I had a couple of hours under lights up my sleeve but yeah, unlucky.
“It’s a tight series. It will be tough to get up for the last Test but we’ll see how we go. I haven’t [done a hamstring], no. I must be getting older. It’s something new as a quick so I’ll do a bit of rehab and get back on the park as quick as I can,” Hazlewood told Fox Cricket.
Ricky Ponting feared Josh Hazlewood’s international summer could be finished
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting who made his debut on Twitter on Friday added that he feared Hazlewood’s international summer could be finished when he saw the 28-year-old’s facial expression upon leaving the ground.
Based on the prima facie, Ponting said it would be a serious injury while hoping that it is not too serious. Ponting understands that Josh Hazlewood’s absence is a huge blow to Australia.
“Looking at that I reckon it could be his summer over. Just looking at his reaction you could tell he thinks it’s quite a serious one. The three New Zealand Test matches aren’t that far apart so we’ll keep our fingers crossed and hope it’s not too serious. It’s a huge blow in the game for the Aussies,” he added.
