Australia have been dealt an injury blow ahead of the third Ashes Test with Josh Hazlewood suffering a setback.
The fast bowler has missed the first two Tests of the series due to a hamstring issue, but this is a different problem.
3
Hazlewood has been a huge player for Australia for yearsCredit: Getty Images – Getty
He has now suffered soreness in his Achilles, which is set to delay his return to bowling.
He is currently joined on the sidelines by the Aussie Test captain, Pat Cummins.
The fast bowler has been dealing with a back problem for quite some time now, but he has returned to the nets.
However, his partner in crime, Hazlewood, won’t be joining him just yet, and with a short turnaround until the third Test, he is a major doubt for that one now.
Read more on The Ashes
But Cummins is expected back, and England will be hoping it’s 1-1 and not 2-0.
In a statement, Cricket Australia said: “Josh Hazlewood reported achilles soreness this week during his rehabilitation from recent hamstring injury.
“It is a low-grade issue and he is expected to recommence running and bowling next week.”
And former Aussie fast bowler Damien Fleming believes that Hazlewood won’t see any Ashes action now until the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground [MCG] at the earliest.
He said: “That looks Melbourne Test match at best.
“It’s more likely Sydney and you’re coming off no cricket. I feel for him.”
3
Hazlewood was expected to be able to take part in the third Test, but as it stands, that looks unlikelyCredit: Getty
3
In their absence, Mitchell Starc has taken on full responsibilityCredit: GettyStarc stands up
With Cummins and Hazlewood out, Mitchell Starc has had to take on even more responsibility than normal.
He has more than responded as well, claiming three wickets inside the opening over of each of England’s innings so far.
He has 16 wickets in the series overall, which is the most by any player at this stage of an Ashes since Mitchell Johnson in 2014/14, who had 17.
But he still has another innings to come and is the only Aussie fast bowler who is providing consistent threat.
He claimed six scalps in the first innings, and in Perth, he grabbed his best-ever Test figures of 7-56.
And at The Gabba, he moved himself into GOAT territory.
This is because he surpassed Wasim Akram as the left-arm fast bowler with the most Test wickets, though he was having none of being classed as better.
Speaking in the immediate aftermath of day one, he said: “I’ll reflect on it later, Wasim’s still a far better bowler than I am.
Read More on talkSPORT
“So as far as I’m concerned, he’s still the pinnacle of left-armers and certainly right up there with bowlers to ever play the game.
“So, it’s nice to be spoken of up around that, but I’ll just try and keep churning a few out.”