Josh Hazlewood is in excessive doubt for the primary Check in opposition to South Africa in Brisbane subsequent week and probably past, after being dominated out of Adelaide for a second straight 12 months with a aspect pressure.
Michael Neser was ushered in on the eleventh hour as Hazlewood’s alternative in an assault already lacking Pat Cummins, after the big-right armer pulled up sore from bowling for 25 minutes within the nets on match-eve earlier than being despatched for scans.
Cummins is predicted to be totally recovered from a minor quad pressure for the opening Check in opposition to South Africa beginning on Saturday week, however there may be far much less certainty over when Hazlewood would possibly return this summer season after Cricket Australia confirmed he has suffered a low vary left aspect pressure.
It’s a serious blow to Australia and Hazlewood — who after injuring his aspect in opposition to England within the first Check of final summer season, missed the remainder of the marketing campaign.
“He pulled up fairly sore in his left aspect after the ultimate day there in Perth,” Cummins mentioned of Hazlewood in commentary for Fox Cricket.
“(He had) a roll yesterday to verify he was all good and pulled up a little bit bit sore once more.
“He went off for a scan this morning, he’s obtained a small, very minor left aspect pressure.
“It’s fairly totally different to the one final 12 months, so we’ll handle him over the following little bit, however unlucky for Joshy, he misses this one.”
Cummins mentioned in the long run frequent sense prevailed along with his personal quad pressure.
“I used to be a bit too optimistic. It’s a few 7-10 day damage the physio is telling me and right now is day six right now so it was a bit excessive danger. I obtained shut, I felt good however a bit too excessive danger,” Cummins mentioned on Fox.
“Not just for myself, but when I’m going down early, Starcy (and the opposite overs, I) put extra overs into them than you’d like. In order that’s the movement on impact.”
Hazlewood has but to be scratched for Brisbane and will likely be assessed within the coming days, however it’s greater than possible he received’t be rushed again, with solely 5 days’ between the 2 sequence.
There’s a large 12 months forward for Australian cricket and Hazlewood is essential.
Based mostly on final 12 months’s expertise, it’s potential Hazlewood might have performed his final Check for the summer season.
It implies that regardless of Scott Boland and Neser getting the nod in Adelaide, there’s a probability Lance “The Wild Factor” Morris is a risk to make his Check debut on the Gabba if selectors imagine his specific 150km/h tempo might trigger havoc on the quick Brisbane wicket.
Mark Waugh mentioned on Fox Cricket he was shocked Morris wasn’t backed in for Adelaide.
“I believed they may’ve went with him forward of Neser provided that he’s obtained that further tempo. (Scott) Boland and Neser are an analogous form of tempo,” Waugh mentioned on Fox Cricket. “It will’ve been tempting (to select Morris). They’ve introduced him into the squad so he’s clearly on the radar which is an efficient signal for morris.
“150km/h below lights — he would’ve been a handful.”
Nevertheless, the Gabba is Queenslander Neser’s house floor and he could also be backed in for back-to-back Checks if Hazlewood is unable to get better.
The circumstances of Cummins and Hazlewood being withdrawn from the identical Check in Adelaide is eerily just like what occurred final summer season, when Australia was pressured to usher in Jhye Richardson and Neser on the eleventh hour.
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Initially revealed as Australia v West Indies: Observe all of the motion from day 2 of the day-night Check in Adelaide
