News Josh Hazlewood got the thumbs-up from the medics on Tuesday after scans on a tight right hamstring showed “no muscle strain”, yet fellow quick Sean Abbott will miss the first Ashes Test with a moderate left-hamstring tear.
The pair came off straight after lunch on day three of New South Wales’ Sheffield Shield match against Victoria at the SCG, neither man returning to the field – nor later to the crease – as the Blues folded to a hefty 300-run defeat.
NSW skipper Steven Smith did not hesitate once Hazlewood mentioned the twinge. “He literally bowled his last ball and I looked at him and said, ‘how are you going?’” Smith explained. “He’s like, ‘I’m a bit tight in my hamstring.’ I was like, ‘Get off the field. Disappear. You’re done, go and figure it out.’ Fortunately, it was just some tightness and he’s good.”
A statement issued by Cricket Australia later in the day confirmed as much: “Hazlewood left the field late in Victoria’s innings at the SCG today reporting tightness in his right hamstring. He underwent precautionary scans which have cleared him of muscle strain. He will train as planned in the lead up to the first Test in Perth.”
The same release delivered the bad news on Abbott: “Sean Abbott also left the field having reported left hamstring soreness. Scans confirmed a moderate grade hamstring injury. He will not be available for selection for the first Test match in Perth and his return to play plan will be developed over the coming weeks.”
Pat Cummins – already ruled out of the Perth Test as he continues his recovery from a back stress fracture – happened to be at a promotional event near the ground when events unfolded. “There was a bit happening there for an hour or so,” Cummins said. “I think Josh, he was pretty chipper when he got out [of the scans], so hopefully he should be fine… obviously a week away from the Test series kind of always there on the side of caution.
“I think he was a little bit worried, wanting to get it checked out. When he got back, again I only saw him briefly, but I think he was a bit happier afterwards than he was going into the scans.”
Hazlewood’s fitness is central to Australia’s plans. The right-armer was in excellent rhythm during the ODI series in India last month and had just dismissed Sam Harper with a trademark nip-backer before leaving the field on Tuesday. Losing him as well as Cummins would have forced a complete rethink of the pace attack for the opening Ashes fixture at Optus Stadium, starting next Wednesday.
Abbott’s setback is more than a footnote. The 33-year-old was pencilled in as the reserve quick but an impressive spell – 4 for 18 ripping out Victoria’s middle order – had him nudging the door for a starting berth if any first-choice bowler was unavailable. His absence all but guarantees Scott Boland stays in the XII, and it may open a late opportunity for Western Australia’s Lance Morris to step into the squad once his own minor side strain is ticked off.
Selection chair George Bailey and coach Andrew McDonald, both present at the SCG, will now weigh up workloads. With Hazlewood expected to send down a couple of gentle spells in the nets later this week, the medical staff will track any residual soreness. Mitchell Starc and Boland are due to arrive in Perth on Saturday after a short break.
Smith admitted the balancing act is awkward when state pride collides with national duty. “It’s hard when you’re playing in a game and you want to try and do well for your state as well. Then you’ve got an eye on, obviously, next week,” he said. “Didn’t know about Josh [being cleared] while we were still bowling… I was like, I just don’t want Starcy to get injured. I was like, Boland, you can bowl one spell and be done as well. That’ll be good.”
New South Wales coach Greg Shipperd struck a philosophical note afterwards. He was pleased both bowlers flagged trouble early rather than trying to push through – a lesson he drills into his squad. The modern schedule is unforgiving; quicks are encouraged to speak up at the first sign of a niggle, even if it means a Shield match slips away.
In the short term Australia breathe easier. A refreshed Hazlewood partnering Starc and Boland in Perth would still give Smith, standing in for Cummins, a potent seam trio on one of the quicker decks in the country. Longer term, Abbott’s hamstring will be monitored with a view to him being available for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, provided rehab goes to plan.
Nothing is guaranteed, of course, but after a nervous lunchtime on Tuesday the national camp can live with a split verdict: one scare averted, one replacement to find.
