It is a tough time for Australia’s men’s cricket team as they face an injury crisis just days out from the highly-expected Ashes series against England. This week, key bowler Josh Hazlewood limped off the field during a Sheffield Shield match at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). The 34-year-old fast bowler has reportedly torn his hamstring. That has put a huge question mark over his chances of being able to take the field for the opening Test a week today in Perth.
Hazlewood had to settle for 9 overs in that Shield match. When he failed to return to the field after lunch, alarm bells started blaring over his fitness. Despite looking in good form throughout Australia’s recent ODI and T20 series against India, Hazlewood’s history of injuries looms large, as he has struggled with fitness issues consistently over the past four years. This is especially important, given that he has already missed three Tests last summer alone to the same worries.
There should be no question for Australia’s selectors that Hazlewood travels – only the difficulty of making that call. They have to balance his lengthy serious injury history with his irreplaceable talents to the team’s success. With these considerations in mind, the team will tread carefully, and will even be prepared to rest him for the first Test. Even if he is unable to join, all is not lost. Hazlewood could heal in time to come back for the second Test, which is three weeks later.
The injury woes don’t stop with Hazlewood. Sean Abbott being carried off the field during the recent Sheffield Shield match against Victoria. He had already bowled nine overs before the lunch break. Even before Hazlewood went down, Abbott was never a likely choice for the opening Test. Losing Hazlewood would be an enormous blow to Australia, as the team now find themselves in the midst of a potentially catastrophic lack of pace-bowling depth.
On top of that, for Australia’s woes, skipper Pat Cummins is out with a back injury, leaving them even thinner on bowling options. Scott Boland, the next cab off the rank in Cummins’ absence, may be brought in. The squad will need to keep a close eye on these injuries as they prepare for an important series.
