Australia face a potential bowling crisis ahead of the first Ashes Test against England with both Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott sustaining injuries during a Sheffield Shield match. Both players where seen leaving the sydney Cricket Ground for assessment at a nearby clinic on day three of the game against Victoria, though the specifics of their injuries remain unconfirmed by Cricket Australia and Cricket NSW.
Any injury to Hazlewood would be a major setback, especially with the first Test in Perth just nine days away. Australia are already without captain Pat Cummins for the series opener, likely to be replaced by Scott Boland. Should Hazlewood also be ruled out, Brendan Doggett could be in line for a debut. Hazlewood previously missed three Tests last summer due to side soreness, raising concerns about his fitness ahead of a crucial series.
Australian Cricket Wrap: Green’s Return, Webster’s Push, and Doggett’s Claim
Cameron Green is being eased back into bowling following injury, tasked with delivering 15-20 overs in the ongoing Sheffield Shield match. However, he did not bowl again on Wednesday as Queensland finished their first innings with a total of 390 runs. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/nov/15/cameron-green-bowls-with-intent-as-australia-hope-allrounder-is-fit-for-first-test-against-pakistan
Fellow Australian all-rounder Beau Webster is bolstering his chances for a spot in the Test squad, taking notable figures of 5 for 50 for Tasmania against South Australia. He added another three wickets in South australia’s second innings, though Tasmania ultimately lost the match by three wickets in Hobart.https://www.cricket.com.au/news/sheffield-shield-round-4-tasmania-south-australia-beau-webster-five-wicket-haul/2023/11/16
South Australia’s David Doggett is also making a strong case for Test selection, particularly for a potential debut in Perth. He claimed 5 for 66 in Tasmania’s first innings, putting South Australia in a commanding position.While less impactful in the second innings (1 for 39), his performance has drawn attention. https://www.cricket.com.au/news/sheffield-shield-round-4-tasmania-south-australia-david-doggett-five-wicket-haul/2023/11/16