Australia cricket have suffered another major injury blow ahead of the first Ashes Test, with Josh Hazlewood following captain Pat Cummins in being ruled out.

Hazlewood suffered a hamstring injury playing for New South Wales this week but was hastily cleared by Cricket Australia (CA) just hours after the issue first arose.

Further assessments have now shown a muscle strain and he has been pulled from the squad for Friday’s series opener at Perth’s Optus Stadium.

That leaves two of Australia’s much-vaunted ‘big three’ quicks on the shelf, with Mitchell Starc the last man standing.

Scott Boland was already inked in to deputise for Cummins , who is experiencing back pain, and with reserve seamer Sean Abbott also injured this week the uncapped Brendan Doggett looks set to step up

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