Last Updated on 5 months ago by Charbel Coorey

In relieving news for Australia just over a week out from the Ashes, Josh Hazlewood has been cleared of a hamstring strain.

Hazlewood and Sean Abbott did not return to the field after lunch during New South Wales’ Sheffield Shield loss against Victoria at the SCG. Both were being assessed for hamstring concerns, as reported by CODE Sports.

Unfortunately for Abbott, he picked up a strain and is ruled out of the first Test starting November 21.

Josh Hazlewood set to feature in 1st Ashes Test after scans revealed no strain

With a little over a week until the first Ashes Test, Hazlewood will train as planned.

“He [Hazlewood] will train as planned in the lead up to the first Test in Perth,” a Cricket Australia spokesperson said, as quoted by cricket.com.au.

The pace bowler felt hamstring tightness in the Sheffield Shield match. Steve Smith, who was captaining New South Wales, told Hazlewood to leave the field immediately and get it checked.

“He [Hazlewood] literally bowled his last ball and I looked at him and said, ‘how are you going?’ Smith said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. “He’s like, ‘I’m a bit tight in my hamstring.’ I was like, ‘Get off the field. Disappear. You’re done, go and figure it out.’ Fortunately, it was just some tightness and he’s good.

“It’s hard when you’re playing in a game and you want to try and do well for your state as well,” Smith continued. “Then you’ve got an eye on, obviously, next week. Didn’t know about Josh [being cleared] while we were still bowling. I was like, I just don’t want Starcy [Mitchell Starc] to get injured. I was like, [Scott] Boland, you can bowl one spell and be done as well. That’ll be good.”

On Wednesday afternoon, Pat Cummins told reporters Hazlewood was feeling positive after his scan.

“Joshy was pretty confident when he walked out, so hopefully shouldn’t be too much of an issue,” Cummins said.

“(Josh) knows his body really well. I think he was a little bit worried. Wanted to get it checked out. I only saw him briefly, but he was a bit happier afterwards.”

Hazlewood is one of Australia’s key players. An injury would have been of huge concern. He has been in terrific form across formats this year and will play a lead role with Pat Cummins out of the first Test at least.