Josh Hazelwood Injury Update: Another Setback in His Race to Return for the Ashes
Josh Hazelwood has suffered yet another untimely setback, with new Achilles soreness emerging during his hamstring rehabilitation. The issue has forced Cricket Australia to revise his recovery plan, putting fresh doubt over his availability for the remaining Test matches of the Ashes.
Cricket Australia confirmed that the fast bowler will resume running and bowling next week, but the delay significantly tightens his already challenging timeline for a Test comeback.
Josh Hazelwood’s Rehab Interrupted by Achilles Issue
The update came just as Josh Hazelwood was preparing to link up with Australia’s Test squad in Brisbane. That plan has now been postponed after he reported discomfort in his Achilles during early rehab drills in Sydney.
According to Cricket Australia, the soreness is “low-grade”, but enough to pause his progression, especially as his running and load-bearing work is crucial before returning to long spells with the red ball.
Hazlewood was not expected to play in the Adelaide Test, but hopes were brighter for Melbourne or Sydney. This latest delay, however, means that even those targets now appear uncertain.
How the Story Began a Recurring Pattern of Injuries
For Josh Hazelwood, injuries creeping up immediately after recovery is not new. Over the last few years, he has battled a series of side strains, calf issues, and Achilles problems—often emerging right after he returns from a major injury.
Notable examples include:
- 2022–23: Suffered a side strain and missed three Tests. Achilles soreness then kept him out of the India tour.
- 2023: Strained his calf after rushing back for Brisbane, missing Sri Lanka and the Champions Trophy.
- 2024–25: Enjoyed a rare injury-free streak, playing across formats before a hamstring strain in the Sheffield Shield derailed his Ashes preparation.
His latest hamstring injury occurred while playing for New South Wales against Victoria, with early scans failing to detect the extent of the damage. Coach Andrew McDonald remains cautiously optimistic about a late-series return, but the growing list of setbacks complicates that hope.
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How This Affects the Cricket Landscape
The Ashes series has already tested Australia’s pace depth:
- Sean Abbott is also injured with a hamstring strain.
- Pat Cummins has been held back as a precaution and will only return in Adelaide.
- Workload management remains a major concern given the grueling five-Test schedule.
With Josh Hazelwood unavailable, Australia may need to rely heavily on Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, and emerging quicks. Hazlewood’s consistency and control have historically been central to Australia’s Ashes plans, making this setback a strategic blow.
What Australia Are Saying
Cricket Australia emphasised that the issue is mild and the bowler should return to workload-building next week. However, medical staff acknowledge that Achilles soreness is tricky, especially coming so soon after a hamstring injury.
Team management is wary of rushing him back again, especially given the recurrence trend with Hazlewood’s injuries.
What Happens Now
The path back now depends on how Josh Hazelwood responds to increased running and bowling workloads in the next 7–10 days.
His chances of playing in:
- Adelaide: Almost zero
- Melbourne: Slim, depends on progress next week
- Sydney: Most realistic target, but only if soreness subsides completely
Australia will make a final call based on his ability to bowl extended spells without discomfort.
For now, Hazlewood faces yet another race against time to feature in the Ashes—a familiar storyline for one of Australia’s premier fast bowlers.