Hazlewood to Miss Brisbane Match, Cummins Aiming for Comeback

Ashes 2025: Hazlewood to Miss Brisbane Match, Cummins Aiming for Comeback

Pat Cummins and Josh Hazelwood were not playing the first Ashes Test for Australia against England in Perth. Hazlewood has a hamstring strain, and although the injury has so far not been declared serious, no update has been given on his comeback date.

Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood will miss the second Ashes Test against England in Brisbane due to a hamstring injury. However, there is confidence he will play later in the series. Hazlewood had already missed the opening Test in Perth after picking up the injury during the Sheffield Shield.

He will join the squad in Brisbane to continue his rehab, with coach Andrew McDonald saying the team expects him to feature at some point in the series.

Meanwhile, captain Pat Cummins is close to making a comeback. He trained strongly before the first Test, but his bowling schedule was slightly delayed after the Perth match ended in just two days.

McDonald said Cummins looks nearly ready, though a final decision on whether he plays the day-night Test at the Gabba will be made closer to the match. Cummins has admitted that playing back-to-back Tests could be tough, but shorter games may help him manage his workload.

In Cummins and Hazlewood’s absence, Mitchell Starc led the attack brilliantly in Perth, taking 10 wickets in the match, including a career-best 7 for 58 in the first innings. Scott Boland recovered from a poor opening day to deliver a crucial spell in the second innings, while debutant Brendan Doggett impressed with five wickets across the match.

McDonald admitted Boland’s struggles on day one were partly due to team instructions to bowl very full, before he returned to his natural lengths.

Australia’s batting also saw contributions from debutant Jake Weatherald, who bounced back from a first-innings duck to play a valuable role alongside Travis Head in the run chase. McDonald praised both Weatherald and Doggett for showing composure and skill at the Test level, saying they looked “right at home.”

Australia may add a 15th player to the squad for Brisbane. When Hazlewood and Sean Abbott were ruled out of the Perth Test, only Michael Neser was called up as cover.