Ashes 2021-22: At This Stage It Is Looking Like That - Justin Langer Hints At Josh Hazlewood Missing Hobart Test

Australian head coach Justin Langer has hinted at the possibility of the fast bowler, Josh Hazlewood, missing out on the fifth and final Ashes Test in Hobart starting on January 14.

Hazlewood sustained a side injury during the third innings of the Gabba Test and has been kept out of the team ever since. In his place, two seamers, Michael Neser and Scott Boland have debuted while Jhye Richardson also got a chance.

“At this stage, it is looking like that. It’s been really tough on him, he has been really hanging out to play in this Ashes series like everyone.

“He has missed three games, so to have one of our premier fast bowlers out of the series, I guess it is a bit like England missing one of their premier fast bowlers. At this stage, if I was a guessing man I’d say that he probably won’t play the next Test match but we will wait and see,” Langer said.

“If you don’t want Justin Langer, yeah we’ll have him” – Michael Vaughan

Former England captain Michael Vaughan backed the idea to bring Justin Langer into the England team as the head coach. Langer and Cricket Australia (CA) are at loggerheads regarding contract extension at the moment.

“He’d take all that information to make sure that in 2023, Australia go on to win the Ashes convincingly in English conditions because they’ve got the squad and the mentality around the group with Justin’s kind of leadership to go on and do so. But if you don’t want him, yeah, we’ll have him,” Vaughan said.

Australia leads the Ashes series 3-0 with the fourth Test at SCG also hanging in their favour at the end of Day 3.

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