LILAC HILL — If you had described the scenario to any England player or supporter a few months out from this Ashes series they would not have dared to dream of one as good as this.

With Australia captain Pat Cummins already missing next week’s first Test in Perth, news dropped shortly after midday local time on Saturday that they would also be without Josh Hazlewood, whose hamstring twinge last week had now been upgraded to a strain that apparently did not show up on the original scan.

“Early imaging can occasionally underestimate low-grade muscle injuries,” explained Cricket Australia, whose lightning-quick early clearance of the initial injury always seemed suspiciously quick.

It means for the first Test at least Australia are missing two of the fearsome pace triumvirate on which thei

See Full Page