Josh Hazlewood cleared of injury but Sean Abbott ruled out of Test

Josh Hazlewood cricket action

Hazlewood's career includes 295 wickets maintaining an average of 24.21 across 76 Test matches

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Josh Hazlewood has been cleared to link up with Australia's squad for the initial Test against England following fitness concerns, however, teammate the paceman will miss the match

Each encountered hamstring injuries while representing their state team versus Victoria during Sheffield Shield action this past Wednesday

Tests indicated the 34-year-old Hazlewood avoided a muscle strain. The uncapped Abbott, 33, suffered a moderate-level injury

Team captain Cummins is unavailable for the initial match, commencing later this month, so the loss of a key pace option such as Hazlewood could have proven a major blow

Abbott was doubtful to feature during the Western Australia Test, as Hazlewood prepares to team up fellow quicks Starc and Boland as the specialist seamers

Cummins, currently healing from a back injury, is expected to be likely to comeback during the next Test commencing December fourth

Batter Steve Smith takes over leadership while Cummins is out

Following other the Australia players, Hazlewood is involved in the current round of Sheffield Shield matches building up to the Ashes

Prior to recently, he hadn't featured a first-class match representing NSW since last season

He experienced stiffness in his leg muscle during the final stages of Victoria's second innings on Wednesday exiting the play as a precaution

Neither Hazlewood nor Abbott participated in batting for New South Wales' second innings in a losing cause in a substantial margin

"We have one week before the international cricket - typically prefer precautionary measures," commented Cummins

"The medical staff sought to identify the nature of the problem prior to testing it and possibly causing anything worse"

"It's rare to get him cheerful, making it encouraging to see him smiling"

"He knows his body thoroughly. He appeared a little bit worried (and desired it checked out"

Abbott has won 57 appearances with the national team in limited-overs formats

The uncapped Doggett is the other seamer in the squad, offering support to Starc, Boland and Hazlewood

Larry Haynes
Larry Haynes

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