Injury fears for Hazlewood, Abbott ahead of Ashes opener

Australia are sweating on hamstring injury assessments on Test star Josh Hazlewood and reserve paceman Sean Abbott after a dramatic morning at the SCG on Wednesday.

Hazlewood and Abbott left the field during Victoria’s second innings, having starred in NSW’s day-three revival with the ball, with Abbott taking four wickets in the morning session.

NSW Cricket officials are yet to confirm the extent of either injury, only that the quicks were assessed by a physio.

With skipper Pat Cummins already sidelined for at least the first Ashes Test due to a back injury, Australia can ill afford to lose another frontline paceman before next Friday’s series opener against England in Perth.

Hazlewood missed three Tests last summer due to ongoing side strain issues, while the uncapped Abbott has slowly moved up the fast bowling pecking order in recent years.

Neither player appeared to show discomfort while bowling on Wednesday morning. Abbott took three wickets in six balls early in the day to trigger a Victoria collapse.

Hazlewood also impressed in his first spell with short-pitched offerings before bouncing out Sam Harper, who was caught by Abbott at deep square leg.

South Australia speedster Brendan Doggett would come into contention for a surprise Test debut should Hazlewood’s injury prove serious.

Doggett – who took five wickets against Tasmania on Monday – is in line to become just Australia’s third Indigenous Test cricketer.

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Any concern about Hazlewood’s fitness could also have implications for Cameron Green’s Test bowling loads given his own gradual return from back surgery.

Green impressed with the ball for Western Australia on Tuesday, taking a wicket in a tidy day’s bowling, having only sent down four overs this summer before taking on Queensland this week.

Green’s return to the bowling crease had been expected to tip Tasmanian all-rounder Beau Webster out of the Australian XI, despite Webster’s impressive efforts in Hobart.

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