Win Projections to be updated soon
Perth, 15 November 2025:
Australia’s injury troubles deepened ahead of the Ashes opener when fast bowler Josh Hazlewood was ruled out Saturday with a hamstring strain, further depleting an attack already missing captain Pat Cummins.
Hazlewood had been cleared initially after feeling hamstring tightness while playing for New South Wales on Wednesday, but repeat scans revealed a low-grade strain. Cricket Australia said the pacer will not travel to Perth for the first Test, starting Nov. 21 at Optus Stadium.
“Initial scans on Wednesday were clear of muscle strain, however follow-up imaging has confirmed the injury,” Australia said in a statement. “Early imaging can occasionally underestimate low-grade muscle injuries.”
Hazlewood, 33, has taken 295 wickets in 76 Tests, but injuries limited him to a single appearance in the last home Ashes series four years ago. His latest setback means Australia will be without two members of their frontline pace trio, with Cummins already sidelined by a back issue and expected to return in the second Test in Brisbane.
Mitchell Starc is now the only fit member of Australia’s preferred seam attack. Scott Boland will take one of the vacant spots, while Brendan Doggett is in line for a debut. Michael Neser, who played Shield cricket in Perth this week, has been added to the squad as cover. Back-up quick Sean Abbott and speedsters Spencer Johnson and Lance Morris are also out through injury.
Jhye Richardson, who last played a Test in the 2021–22 Ashes, is building back after shoulder surgery and will continue his return with a Cricket Australia XI against England Lions next weekend.
The blow to Australia came on the same day England welcomed positive news on Mark Wood. The fast bowler was cleared of a left-hamstring concern after scans showed no damage. Wood left the field on Thursday during England’s warm-up match against the Lions, his first competitive outing since knee surgery in February.
The 35-year-old bowled two four-over spells before reporting tightness in the same leg on which he’d had the operation. England said Wood will sit out the final day of the tour match at Lilac Hill but will “continue to train as planned” ahead of the first Test.
Wood has not played a Test since August 2024 after successive elbow and knee injuries. Despite the long layoff, England hopes to pair him with Jofra Archer in an all-pace assault for the series opener. The tourists signaled their intent by naming five seamers — including Wood and Archer — and no specialist spinner for the warm-up match.
England must now decide whether to risk Wood in Perth or opt for Josh Tongue as a like-for-like replacement. If they turn to spin, Shoaib Bashir or Will Jacks could come into contention. Wood could also be eased back through Lions fixtures, who play a Cricket Australia XI during the first Test, then a two-day pink-ball match against a Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra.
Meanwhile, England confirmed leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed will miss the rest of the Lions tour with a leg injury. Ahmed, who was not selected in the Ashes squad, will return home but is expected to be available for the Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League next month.
