Australia has suffered a significant setback ahead of the highly anticipated 2025 Ashes series, with frontline fast bowler Josh Hazlewood officially ruled out of the first Test against England in Perth. The veteran seamer, who has long been a key pillar of Australia’s pace battery, is sidelined after updated scans confirmed a hamstring strain—an injury that further depletes an already weakened bowling unit.

Hazlewood initially appeared to have escaped serious damage after picking up a hamstring issue while playing for New South Wales earlier in the week. Early medical assessments suggested he was fit to travel, but follow-up imaging revealed a muscle strain that will prevent him from taking part in the series opener at Optus Stadium.

The news comes at a difficult time for Australia. Captain Pat Cummins, the team’s premier fast bowler, was previously ruled out of the opening Test due to a back injury. Hazlewood’s withdrawal means two members of Australia’s famed “big three” fast-bowling trio—Cummins, Starc, and Hazlewood—will be absent for the first match of the iconic Ashes rivalry.

With Cummins and Hazlewood unavailable, Mitchell Starc stands as the sole remaining member of the frontline attack. Starc is set to be joined by Scott Boland, while Brendan Doggett is now in contention for a potential Test debut after being drafted into the squad. Australia have also added experienced seamer Michael Neser, who, despite having two Test appearances, last featured in the format in 2022.

Neser, now 35, becomes another seasoned option in a squad suddenly short on fast-bowling depth. His inclusion comes on the same day England received a welcome boost of their own, with pace bowler Mark Wood cleared of a hamstring scare.

Hazlewood’s injury adds yet another chapter to his recent struggles with fitness during Ashes campaigns. He managed just one Test during Australia’s last home Ashes series four years prior, missing the remainder due to a side injury. Despite his absence this time, he remains one of Australia’s most accomplished bowlers, with 295 Test wickets from 76 matches.

While Cummins is expected to recover in time for the second Test in Brisbane—where he would resume the captaincy from stand-in skipper Steve Smith—there is no clear timeline for Hazlewood’s return. Australia confirmed that he will not travel to Perth, with medical staff monitoring his condition over the coming days.

The injury woes don’t stop there. Backup seamer Sean Abbott had already been sidelined due to his own hamstring problem, and Australia remains without express pacemen Spencer Johnson and Lance Morris, both of whom are long-term casualties.

Another possible future addition is Jhye Richardson, who has not played Test cricket since facing England four years ago. Richardson continues his rehabilitation from shoulder surgery and is expected to feature in a Cricket Australia XI match against the England Lions next weekend.

With their pace stocks stretched thin, Australia faces a challenging start to the Ashes series as they attempt to defend home soil against a confident England side who arrive in Perth with far fewer injury concerns.