Australia faces a nervous wait through this week as quicks Josh Hazlewood, who was expected to spearhead the bowling attack in Perth, and Sean Abbott are assessed for separate hamstring injuries picked up in the Sheffield Shield.
Both were taken off the field with hamstring complaints as New South Wales beat Victoria in a domestic clash at the SCG; each could yet join Pat Cummins in the ballooning injury ward for the series.
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It’s worth noting that NSW Cricket and Cricket Australia are still trying to figure out exactly how badly each has been injured, but several sources speaking to Code Sports had said there are fears it will be “a disastrous double blow.” The Sporting Base understands Abbott’s injury is considered worse than Hazlewood’s, with the latter experiencing “tightness.”
Medical staff would definitely not be pushing the point, however, with any problems that see Hazlewood out for the whole series the worst possible outcome for Australia as they look to beat tourists England in the grudge match rivalry.
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Should both be out, South Australian Brendan Doggett would be in line for a shock Test debut in Perth next week. Doggett would, should he debut, be just the third Indigenous men’s cricketer to ever represent Australia in a Test series.
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Both injured players had been looking red-hot in the Shield recently, with Abbott having already taken several wickets in the NSW-VIC clash where he was injured. Hazlewood has been looking among Australia’s very best with the ball in recent outings in the green and gold, and has been heavily tipped to an offensive difference maker in the Ashes.
The Sporting Base understands selectors have urgently told Scott Boland to take it easy now, too.
