Josh Hazlewood is racing the clock to contribute in the Ashes series due to a further physical setback in his journey back to the bowling crease.
A Story of One Step Forward, Two Steps Back.
It has been a case of one step forward two steps back for the 34-year-old paceman who was showing encouraging signs after sustaining a hamstring strain, picked up in domestic cricket. He was scheduled to link up the national squad in Queensland earlier this week for further rehabilitation but remained in New South Wales.
“The pace bowler experienced achilles soreness this week while in recovery {from a recent hamstring injury|from the earlier muscle issue|,” an official confirmed. “It is a low-grade issue, with expectations he will restart his bowling program soon.”
First-Choice Attack Plans Disrupted.
The team management is dealing with the prospect that their ideal attack of Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc during this Ashes contest. He was recently seen working with his recovering teammate Pat Cummins in a positive sign.
He was bowling with a red ball, rather than the pink variant, indicating his target was the upcoming match at Adelaide Oval. That schedule now appears in doubt although there is better news regarding Pat Cummins, who nearly featured in the second Test.
Bailey's Assessment on Cummins and Lyon.
The chief selector confirmed stated Cummins was nearly available, only withdrawing on match eve due to the lingering impact {of a back injury|from a back complaint|. Bailey confirmed Cummins would be fit at the Adelaide Oval, with the second Test timeline being too aggressive.
“Selection was an option but there would’ve been some restrictions,” he noted. “Currently, he is in a phase of intensive bowling preparation. A longer build-up is definitely preferable.”
Bailey said Nathan Lyon , dropped for the second Test. With Cummins to join Starc, and most likely Boland, in Adelaide the positions of pacemen will be closely examined ahead of the third Test. The left-armer has been the cornerstone of the pace attack without of his two esteemed colleagues, claiming 16 scalps with a remarkable average.
