Josh Hazlewood ruled out of Ashes opener in fresh blow to Australia bowling stocks

<ul><li><p>Michael Neser added to first Test squad already missing Pat Cummins </p></li><li><p>England’s Mark Wood available after being cleared of hamstring injury</p></li></ul><p>Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the first Ashes Test after a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/nov/12/injury-australia-pace-attack-first-ashes-test-josh-hazlewood-sean-abbott">second scan on the hamstring injury</a> he initially reported during the recent Sheffield Shield match between New South Wales and Victoria found a low-grade tear.</p><p>The news came hours after England announced that scans on Mark Wood, whose own participation in the opening Test had been thrown into doubt after he <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/nov/13/ashes-injury-scare-england-mark-wood-scan-hamstring-cricket">reported stiffness in his left hamstring</a> on the first day of their warm-up game against the Lions at Lilac Hill, had found no injury.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/nov/15/ashes-england-cricket-mark-wood-injury">Continue reading...</a>