PERTH, Australia \u2013 Cricket’s oldest and fiercest rivalry kicks off in Perth on November 21, but preparations have been disrupted by a wave of injuries to fast bowlers on both the Australian and English sides. <\/p>\n
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In a major setback for Australia, bowler Josh Hazlewood has been officially scratched from the first Test due to a hamstring injury picked up in the Sheffield Shield.<\/p>\n
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Hazlewood’s absence compounds Australia’s bowling woes, with Pat Cummins and Sean Abbott already out of action due to injury. With the fast-bowling core depleted, Michael Neser, a 33-year-old with two Test appearances who made his debut against England in 2021, has been added to the lineup. Per cricket.com.au reports, uncapped 31-year-old Brendan Doggett is poised for a potential debut. He’s been dominant in domestic cricket, claiming a six-wicket haul and a five-for in recent Sheffield Shield outings.<\/p>\n
The revamped attack is expected to feature veteran left-armer Mitchell Starc, reliable Scott Boland, and spin maestro Nathan Lyon at the forefront.<\/p>\n
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On a brighter note, all-rounder Cameron Green has resumed bowling in the Sheffield Shield and should be ready to contribute with the ball throughout the series. Australia’s squad for the opening Test: Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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England’s quest to claim their first Ashes victory in Australia since 2010\/11 has hit a snag, as lightning-fast bowler Mark Wood experienced hamstring tightness during a practice game against the England Lions. <\/p>\n
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Wood, valued for his explosive pace as a game-changer, exited the field precautionary and is scheduled for imaging tests. Vice-captain Harry Brook commented on the issue: “It’s far from perfect, but it’s the risk that comes with bowling at that speed. We’ll know more after tomorrow’s scans.”An ECB update suggests Wood could return to bowling within a couple of days, though he’ll sit out the rest of the warm-up. Given his past injuries, England is eager for a clean bill of health. Captain Ben Stokes, who starred with six wickets in the tune-up match, will be pivotal with bat and ball, while the team counts on Wood and Jofra Archer’s speed to exploit Aussie conditions.<\/p>\n
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First Test: Perth Stadium, November 21-25<\/p>\n
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Second Test: The Gabba, December 4-8<\/p>\n
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Third Test: Adelaide Oval, December 17-21 (pink-ball match)<\/p>\n
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Fourth Test: Melbourne Cricket Ground, December 26-30<\/p>\n
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Fifth Test: Sydney Cricket Ground, January 4-8<\/p>\n
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