Josh Hazlewood's highly anticipated return to the Australian Test side has been delayed yet again, this time due to Achilles soreness. The setback occurred during his rehabilitation from a hamstring injury sustained last month while playing for New South Wales against Victoria. This latest hurdle puts his participation in the remainder of the Ashes 2025-26 series in serious doubt.
Hazlewood had been aiming to rejoin the squad in Brisbane to continue his recovery, but those plans have now been put on hold. The right-arm fast bowler had recently resumed light bowling in Sydney as he recovered from the hamstring injury that ruled him out of the first two Ashes Tests in Perth and Brisbane.
Cricket Australia released a statement regarding Hazlewood's condition, noting that he reported Achilles soreness this week during his rehab. The statement described it as a "low-grade issue" and indicated that "he is expected to recommence running and bowling next week".
While Hazlewood was already unlikely to feature in the third Test in Adelaide starting December 17, this new setback casts doubt on his potential availability for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne and the fifth Test in Sydney.
This injury adds to a frustrating run for the 34-year-old, who has struggled with recurring calf and Achilles issues in recent years. In the 2022-23 season, a side strain in the first home Test sidelined him for three matches, and subsequent Achilles soreness prevented him from participating in the tour of India in early 2023. He was also not selected for the World Test Championship final in June due to fitness concerns. Last summer saw him miss the second Test against India in Adelaide due to another side strain, and a premature return for the Brisbane Test resulted in a calf strain.
Hazlewood's absence would be a significant blow to Australia's chances in the Ashes, especially with fellow fast bowler Pat Cummins also recovering from a back injury. While Cummins is expected to be fit for the Adelaide Test, the potential absence of Hazlewood raises concerns about the composition of Australia's pace attack. The team has already used Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett, and Michael Neser in the first two tests. Jhye Richardson, who is currently representing Australia 'A' against England Lions, could be considered for a recall if Hazlewood isn't fit.
Despite the setbacks, there remains some optimism that Hazlewood could still play a role in the latter stages of the Ashes series. However, time is running out for the veteran, who is eager to contribute to Australia's campaign.
