Ashes 2021-22: Josh Hazlewood Likely To Be Ruled Out Of Adelaide Test - Reports

Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood might have to sit out of the pink-ball Test at the Adelaide Oval next week. The 30-year-old has fitness issues after sustaining a side strain during the first Test at the Gabba.

He was part of the Aussie team that won the first Test by 9 wickets. However, he bowled very few overs in England’s second innings and Pat Cummins later stated that his fitness is being monitored.

“I think we’ll wait until he wakes up in the morning. I think a key is we don’t want to put him in jeopardy for the whole series. We’ll take our time. He had a scan last night so we’ll kind of work through that. There’s nothing scary enough (in the scan results) to not bowl today but still a little bit just to make us want to manage him a little bit,” Cummins had told on Saturday afternoon.

“Josh Hazlewood is a key player for us” – Pat Cummins

The Australian pace attack comprising Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood works in tandem, and the absence of even one player could tamper with its rhythm. However, since it’s quite a long tour, Hazlewood can afford to sit the second Test out and come back for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

“He’s a little bit sore. It was good he came out today and had a bowl and got through a really good spell. He’s a little bit sore so we’re managing him through a five-Test match summer. He’s a key for us, don’t want to blow him out of the water on day three,” Cummins added.

According to reports in News Corp, Hazlewood flew to Sydney from Brisbane on Sunday. The team is staying in Brisbane from where they will fly out to Adelaide on Monday. If Hazlewood is ruled out, Jhye Richardson is likely to replace him.

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