Ashes 2021-22: Josh Hazlewood ruled out of Day-Night Test in Adelaide due to side strain

Australia are flying high after a magnificent win over England in the first Ashes Test at Gabba. The teams will next cross swords in a Day-Night game at Adelaide Oval starting from December 16. However, ahead of the match, Australia have been dealt with a massive blow as ace pacer Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the second Test due to a side strain.

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Questions were being raised on Hazlewood's fitness in the first Test as the pace bowled only 14 overs in England's second inning. Australian skipper Pat Cummins later confirmed that Hazlewood has picked up a side strain. Cummins revealed that he didn't want Hazlewood to exaggerate his injury which is why he didn't bowl him much in the second inning.

“Obviously, it’s a five-Test match series, so (we) didn’t want to try and break him yesterday. He pulled up OK today, so we’ll keep managing him.

“I think we’ll wait until he wakes up in the morning. I think a key is we don’t want to put him in jeopardy for the whole series so we’ll take our time. He had a scan last night so we will kind of work through that. He bowled today but no plan yet, sleep on it, see how he pulls up tomorrow,” said Cummins after winning the Ashes opener.

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Meanwhile, pacer Jhye Richardson has been added to the Australia squad as a replacement for Hazlewood as reported by Foxsports.com.au. If selected in the XI, this will be Richardson's third Test of his career, having made his debut against Sri Lanka in 2019.

England will be keen to make a comeback into the series after suffering a 9 wicket hammering in the first Test.