Hazlewood ruled out of the Ashes, but Cummins returns for Adelaide

PL reports on a blow to key Australian quick and changes for the third Test

Josh Hazlewood is out of the Ashes. Coach Andrew McDonald confirmed the Australian seamer, who suffered a setback during his rehabilitation from a hamstring injury that kept him out of the first two matches, will not be fit to take part in the rest of the series.

It’s a terrible blow for the bowler and a significant one for Australia, as Hazlewood was in sparkling form earlier in the summer before the injury.

Fortunately for the home side, Mitchell Starc has been extraordinary in the first two Tests without Hazlewood or Pat Cummins available.

The captain, who was close to returning for the second Test from a stress-related injury, is expected to play in Adelaide.

Starc has 18 wickets at an average of 14, and while he has shouldered most of the load, he’s received support from Brendan Doggett (7 at 30), Scott Boland (7 at 32) and Michael Neser, who took 6 at 14 after being included at Adelaide.

Neser’s impact was enhanced by wicket keeper Alex Carey standing up to the stumps, forcing the English bowlers to stay in their crease rather than advance against the medium pace seam bowling.

The performance saw an old quote from English cricket director and architect of the Bazball era, Rob Key, surface online, where the former Test player says such a tactic has no place in modern Test cricket.