Hazlewood suffers Achilles soreness during hamstring rehab

Josh Hazlewood's hopes of playing a part in the Ashes series have suffered another setback after he reported Achilles soreness during the early stages of his return from a hamstring injury.

Hazlewood had been due to join the Test squad in Brisbane to continue his recovery but that trip has been shelved. He had returned to bowling off a few paces in Sydney last week having been ruled out of the start of the series after picking up the hamstring injury against Victoria last month.

"Josh Hazlewood reported achilles soreness this week during his rehabilitation from recent hamstring injury," a Cricket Australia statement said. "It is a low-grade issue and he is expected to recommence running and bowling next week."

Hazlewood was never a realistic prospect of featuring in Adelaide but now could face a race to feature in Melbourne or Sydney.

It continues a running theme with Hazlewood in recent years of other injuries flaring in the immediate aftermath of a significant injury, and a continuation of calf and Achilles issues.

In 2022-23 he suffered a side strain in the first home Test of the summer and missed three Tests before returning. He then suffered ongoing Achilles soreness after his first Test back in early January and missed the entire tour of India in early 2023 and was not selected in the World Test Championship final in June as he was slightly underdone in his recovery.

Last summer, Hazlewood suffered a side strain in the opening Test against India and missed the second Test in Adelaide. But after rushing back for the third Test in Brisbane he strained a calf and missed the final two matches of the summer, the tour of Sri Lanka and the Champions Trophy before finally returning midway through the IPL.

He had an uninterrupted run from there playing in the IPL, the WTC final, three Tests in the Caribbean and the five white-ball series, including different formats, against South Africa, New Zealand and India, until his only Sheffield Shield game of the summer in the lead-in to the Ashes.

He strained his hamstring playing for New South Wales against Victoria, which a scan did not initially detect, and there were concerns about a tendon issue. However, Australia coach Andrew McDonald was confident he could still play a part later in the series. But a delay in his running and bowling loads due to Achilles soreness will narrow his chances to appear in either of those Tests.

Australia's pace-bowling depth has been tested in the early stages of the Ashes with Sean Abbott also sidelined by a hamstring injury. Pat Cummins was close to a return at the Gabba but has been held back until Adelaide.