Australia suffered a huge blow on Saturday when Josh Hazlewood was ruled out of the first Ashes Test against England, leaving their pace shares dangerously thin, while Pat Cummins and Sean Abbott were also sidelined.
The 34-year-old strained his hamstring during New South Wales’ Sheffield Shield match against Victoria this week.
He was initially given the all-clear after a scan, but repeat imaging confirmed the strain.
“Initial scans on Wednesday were clear of muscle strain, but follow-up testing today confirmed the injury,” Cricket Australia said. “Early imaging can occasionally underestimate low-grade muscle injuries.
“As a result, Hazlewood will not travel to Perth and has been ruled out of the first Ashes Test match.”
It is a huge setback for the hosts, coming just days after the opening Test in Perth on November 21, with Cummins also missing the match.
The Australian captain has not played since suffering a lower back injury against the West Indies more than three months ago.
He aims to be back for the second Test in Brisbane on December 4, but it is unclear when Hazlewood will be fit enough to take part in the five-Test series.
Reserve fast bowler Abbott is also an injury victim, having hurt his hamstring in the same match as Hazlewood, while his return has also been clouded.
Michael Neser, who has played two Tests, was called up as cover for the side on Saturday.
With Hazlewood and Cummins both absent, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland and Nathan Lyon will lead a weakened attack in Perth, with Brendan Doggett likely to make his debut.
The blow came when England’s top speedster Mark Wood won his fitness battle, a boost for the tourists as they bid to win the Ashes for the first time since 2010-11 in Australia.
Wood, 35, complained of left hamstring stiffness during England’s only warm-up match this week.
It was his first match in almost nine months after knee surgery, and he played just eight overs before leaving the field.
“Following precautionary scans on Friday, England fast bowler Mark Wood has been cleared of any concerns about his left hamstring,” the England Cricket Board said.
“Wood will continue to train as planned ahead of the first Test in Perth.”
He did not bowl on the final day of the warm-up match against the second-tier English Lions on Saturday, where Ollie Pope scored 90 to go with his first innings 100.
Joe Root made 31, but openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett both fell cheaply.
Barring any further complications, Wood will lead the Test attack, possibly alongside Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue.
