Ashes campaigns do not normally begin with a sense of panic, yet that’s what has happened; only three days have passed since the medical scans cleared Josh Hazlewood of having a hamstring problem. The fresh scan that has just come in has also formally eliminated him for the opening test at Perth. That is 295 Test wickets and perhaps the most reliable metronome in Australian cricket, removed from the team list prior to the ball being delivered. And all of this is not occurring in isolation. Pat Cummins will be unable to participate in the first Test as he rushes to recover from a back injury. Sean Abbott? Out as well. England experienced their own Mark Wood scare last week, but they were able to avoid it. Australia was not.
A Blow Bigger Than One Bowler Missing
He is much more than just a fast bowler. He is Australia’s Rhythm Setter. The others get all of the attention from the media due to the amount of runs they can take quickly (Starc & Boland); however, Hazlewood manages the tempo of the game, the guy who gets frustrated with his opponents and makes them make mistakes as opposed to knocking them over. Losing him means losing Australia’s ‘Control Valve’. If Hazlewood leaves, then Stare may attack too much, and Boland becomes the sole anchor for containing England in an innings – if there is a single imbalance in Australia, then England will be clinical on the loose spells.
A Starc–Boland Burden With No Safety Net
Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland have shown themselves capable of winning matches; however, neither has ever been required to carry an entire Australian Test bowling line-up on home soil, with either Josh Hazlewood or Pat Cummins alongside them. They face a huge challenge in terms of workload: extreme Perth conditions, English batsmen ready to take a more aggressive approach, and the Kookaburra ball, which swings and seams less as the day wears on. If Mitchell Starc’s length becomes inconsistent or if Scott Boland’s bowling consistency is tested too far, then Australia may find itself running out of bowling options quickly under extreme pressure.
Neser and Doggett: Reward for Form, Trial By Fire
Neser will join the team again, he earned that right. He was part of the team in two test matches, and Australia were the winners in those two tests. However, there are differences when you say “useful options” as opposed to “a structural solution.” Doggett may find himself potentially playing his first test in Perth. With respect to form, he took 13 wickets in just two shield games after recovering from a hamstring injury. His selection would also make him a historical note in the Australian Cricket Story. That being the first time that two indigenous players (Boland & Doggett) have been in the same men’s test XI for Australia. Not ideal conditions for any new player to play their first test match under; however, it is baptism by fire rather than an initiation into test cricket.
The Cummins Countdown Creates a Strategic Dilemma
Fast bowling gambles have long memories. Pat Cummins says the Gabba is still the goal for now – as he said yesterday, “we are getting close to 90 per cent” in nets, but a premature return could easily turn one Test absent from the field into five Tests absent from the field. The pressure on him to get back quicker would be huge, however, if he were to struggle in Perth. As such, Australia must weigh its need for patience with its need to avoid panic — historically, panic has been unkind. Last year, Hazlewood was absent for three out of five Tests because of soft tissue injuries.
While Jhye Richardson (return of shoulder) and Xavier Bartlett (in reserve) look like they could be some good options, neither has yet demonstrated that they have reached the required level to compete at the first-class level this week. There is no shortage of Australian fast bowlers; there is simply a lack of availability at present. However, if another injury were to occur prior to the Ashes campaign commencing, we would quickly transition from a “depth” to a “making do with what we have” situation.
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