Josh Hazlewood, Australian pacer, and Australian opener David Warner are injury concerns for Australia after their nine-wicket win over England in the first Ashes Test.
Josh Hazlewood has a mild rib issue but, having been absent for much of day three, did bowl as England collapsed from 223-2 to 297 all out on day four. David Warner, who also has a rib injury, did not field on the third day and did not open batting when his side chased 20 to win.
Josh Hazlewood To Be Closely Monitored While David Warner Is Expected To Be Fit For The 2nd Test
Captain Pat Cummins said he expects David Warner to be fit for the second Test. But he was more hesitant on the prospects of 30-year-old Josh Hazlewood – third in the International Cricket Council’s Test bowling rankings – playing in the day-night match in Adelaide, which begins on Thursday.
“He was a little sore [on day three] so we tried to get him through,” Cummins said.
“[It is] nothing too serious but we didn’t want it to turn into a huge injury. The key is we don’t want to put him in jeopardy for the whole series. He had a scan last night and there was nothing scary enough to not bowl today. We want to manage him a little bit.”
Josh Hazlewood, part of Australia’s T20 World Cup-winning squad last month, took 3-74 in 27 overs in the match but only bowled eight of 70 overs on day three in Brisbane. David Warner was injured when hit in the ribs while making 94 in Australia’s first innings. Alex Carey took his place as an opener for the short fourth-innings chase.
“Davey was available to bat. We just chose not to risk him,” Pat Cummins, 28, said.
“When we had 20 to win we couldn’t find him. We looked everywhere in the stadium. I think he will be alright for Adelaide.”
Australia will be closely monitoring the fitness of Josh Hazlewood in the lead-up to the second Vodafone Ashes Test in Adelaide, with the pace ace nursing a mild side strain. Josh Hazlewood didn’t bowl on the third afternoon in Brisbane and was sent for a scan on Friday night which showed he was at least fit enough to bowl on Saturday.
The right-arm pacer (14-6-32-1) got through six overs on day four and claimed the Jos Buttler in what was ultimately a nine-wicket win for the hosts. But with the Adelaide day-night Test just five days away, and his pink-ball record reading 32 wickets at 19.90, his fitness will be a key concern for the Australian camp.
Pat Cummins Hopes The 1st Test Win At Gabba Would Lead To Emphatic Series Wins Like 2002,2006,2013 And 2017
After Australia dominated the first two days, England began day four with hope after Dawid Malan and Joe Root combined for an unbeaten partnership of 159 on day three. But the pair added just three runs on the fourth morning before the wicket of Dawid Malan, caught at the silly point of the bowling off-spinner Nathan Lyon, sparked a miserable England collapse of eight wickets for 77 runs.
It resulted in another heavy England defeat at the Gabba, to follow a 10-wicket loss in 2017, a 281-run defeat in 2013, plus 277 and 384-run thrashings in 2006 and 2002 respectively.
Pat Cummins, who was captaining Australia for the first time, hopes the latest Australia win could again lead to emphatic series victories, as it did on those four previous occasions.
“I hope so. The bowling unit bowled really well. I am really happy with where we are at. History is great but it doesn’t count for too much,” the fast bowler said.
Nathan Lyon, skipper Pat Cummins, David Warner, and Travis Head were the standout performers as Australia defeated England by nine wickets in the first Ashes Test at the Gabba, Brisbane on Saturday. Chasing 20, Alex Carey (9) and Marcus Harris (9*) made light work of the chase and the hosts registered victory in just 5.1 overs.
Australia 425 and 1 for 20 (Harris 9*, Robinson 1-13) beat England 147 and 297 (Root 89, Malan 82, Lyon 4-91) by nine wickets