Ashes 2025-26: Josh Hazlewood suffers new setback as Achilles soreness delays return

Josh Hazlewood’s hopes of featuring in the Ashes have suffered another setback after he experienced Achilles soreness during the early stages of his return from a hamstring injury. He was scheduled to join the Test squad in Brisbane to continue his recovery, but that plan has now been put on hold.

The right-arm pacer had recently resumed bowling off a few paces in Sydney, having been ruled out of the start of the series following the hamstring injury he sustained against Victoria last month.

“Josh Hazlewood reported achilles soreness this week during his rehabilitation from a recent hamstring injury. It is a low-grade issue and he is expected to recommence running and bowling next week,” a Cricket Australia statement read as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

Hazlewood was never a realistic contender to play in Adelaide, but he could now face a race against time to be available for the Melbourne or Sydney Tests. It marks a continuation of a recurring pattern for the fast bowler in recent years, where secondary injuries tend to flare up immediately after he returns from a major one, particularly calf and Achilles issues.

In the 2022-23 season, Hazlewood sustained a side strain in the first home Test of the summer and missed the next three matches before returning. However, he then experienced persistent Achilles soreness following his comeback in early January, which ruled him out of the entire tour of India in early 2023. He was also overlooked for the World Test Championship final in June as he was considered slightly short of full fitness.

Last summer, Hazlewood suffered another side strain in the opening Test against India and missed the second Test in Adelaide. After rushing back for the third Test in Brisbane, he picked up a calf strain that forced him out of the final two matches of the summer, the Sri Lanka tour, and the Champions Trophy, before finally returning midway through the IPL.

From that point forward, he enjoyed an uninterrupted run, featuring in the IPL, the WTC final, three Tests in the Caribbean, and all five white-ball series across formats against South Africa, New Zealand, and India, up until his lone Sheffield Shield appearance of the summer leading into the Ashes.

During that match, Hazlewood strained his hamstring while playing for New South Wales against Victoria. Although the initial scan did not detect the injury and there were concerns about a tendon issue, Australia coach Andrew McDonald remained optimistic that Hazlewood could still play a role later in the Ashes. However, the latest setback, delays in his running and bowling workloads due to Achilles soreness, now reduces the likelihood of him featuring in either of the remaining Tests.

Australia’s pace depth has already been tested early in the Ashes, with Sean Abbott also sidelined due to a hamstring injury. Pat Cummins was close to returning for the Gabba Test but has instead been held back until Adelaide.