Overview
- Secondary scans confirmed Josh Hazlewood’s hamstring injury, ruling him out of Friday’s first Test in Perth, with reports indicating he could also miss the Gabba match.
- Brendan Doggett is poised for a maiden cap and is expected to line up with Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland at Optus Stadium.
- Pat Cummins remains unavailable due to a back issue, while Sean Abbott was also ruled out after suffering an injury in the same Sheffield Shield match.
- Michael Neser has been added to the squad as contingency and could come into the XI if senior quicks are not cleared for the second Test.
- Doggett’s selection is underpinned by standout Sheffield Shield form for South Australia, and he would become only the third Indigenous man to play Test cricket for Australia.