Ashes Test blow for Australia as injury rules Josh Hazlewood out of first Test

Australia have suffered another major injury blow ahead of the first Ashes Test, with key man Josh Hazlewood ruled out of the series opener.

While England quick Mark Wood was given the all-clear after experiencing tightness in his left hamstring, Hazlewood has joined Baggy Greens captain Pat Cummins on the sidelines after pulling up for New South Wales with a similar complaint.

Hazlewood was hastily cleared by Cricket Australia just hours after the issue first arose on Wednesday but further assessments have now shown a muscle strain and he has been removed from the squad just six days before the series opener at Perth’s Optus Stadium.

That means two of Australia’s much-vaunted ‘big three’ are out of the game, at a cost of 604 Test wickets, leaving Mitchell Starc as the last man s