Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the remainder of the 2025-26 Ashes series after suffering a fresh injury setback as coach Andrew McDonald confirmed on Tuesday December 9th. Josh Hazlewood had been recovering from a hamstring strain picked up during last month’s Sheffield Shield but aggravated his Achilles last week, ending any chance of featuring against England this summer. Josh Hazlewood will target a return ahead of Australia’s T20 World Cup campaign in February.
Andrew McDonald confirms Josh Hazlewood’s injury status
Speaking to reporters, Andrew McDonald said: “Really flat for him. A couple of setbacks that we didn’t see coming. We thought he’d play a huge part in the series, so we really feel for him that he won’t get that opportunity.”Â
Pat Cummins set to return to the XI
While Josh Hazlewood’s absence forces a rethink of Australia’s pace plans for the final three Tests, the news if more upbeat for Pat Cummins, who is expected to resume the captaincy in next week’s Adelaide Test. Cummins has not played a match since July due to a lower back injury but impressed during a series of match simulation spells at Allan Border Field.
McDonald said the 32-year-old is on track to be added to Australia’s squad and to take over from Steve Smith. McDonald said: “There won’t be any match opportunities for Pat before Adelaide, but this is something we’ve done with him before long layoffs. We feel as though he’ll be as best prepared as he can be.”Â
Nathan Lyon is also tipped to return for the final three Tests after being left out of the pink-ball Test in Brisbane.
Mitchell Starc fit for Adelaide Test despite a niggle in the Gabba Test
Meanwhile, Mitchell Starc, who leads the wickets tally with 18 wickets from first two games carried a minor left-side niggle through the Gabba Test but remains in no doubt for Adelaide. Australia are mindful of the tight turnaround between the last three matches, with Starc and Scott Boland having already delivered heavy workloads.
With Cummins and Lyon set to return, two of Boland, Michael Neser and Brendan Doggett are expected to miss in Adelaide, adding fresh options for the Melbourne and Sydney Tests. Jhye Richardson also remains a potential late-series consideration after bowling 26 overs for Australia A last week.
Andrew McDonald elaborated: “The gap between the early Tests was something we thought we could manage. It’s probably more so in Tests four and five, but we’ve got a big inclusion coming and that will create a different balance to our attack.”Â
It is a big blow for the Aussies that Hazlewood has missed out on the whole series now. But with Pat Cummins coming back and the other pacers putting their hands up one feels Australia will manage without Hazlewood. They are already 2-0 up with 3 to play and need just one win to retain the Ashes again. So, they will fancy their chances and the attack will be bolstered with the return of Cummins and Lyon and with Boland there and others in the ranks, it should not be a problem.
Josh Hazlewood will be disappointed but will now get time to work on his fitness and get fit before February before the T20 World Cup 2026. With Mitchell Starc retired from that format, Josh Hazlewood alongside Pat Cummins will be integral to Australia’s campaign there. But the squad looks solid and barring any mishaps, Pat Cummins is set to lead the side in Adelaide with Lyon definitely coming back into the side.
We shall wait and see how the rest of the Ashes Tests pans out and who comes out on top. Will England show some fight? Or are in for a clean sweep? Only time will tell as the third Test kicks off on 17th December, 2025 from Adelaide Oval at 5:00 AM IST onwards.
Also Read: Ashes 2025-26: 3 Reasons For England’s Crushing Loss In 2nd Test