Hazlewood Returns to Nets as Cummins Steps Up Pink-Ball Preparation

Australia received a welcome boost ahead of the second Ashes Test, with Josh Hazlewood returning to training on Tuesday as he continues his recovery from the hamstring injury that ruled him out of the series opener in Perth.

Pat Cummins also trained at Cricket Central in Sydney, bowling with a pink ball as he pushes for selection in the upcoming day-night Test at the Gabba. Cummins has been working back from a back injury and was seen operating at strong intensity.

Hazlewood bowled with a red ball during the session, signalling that his comeback is being targeted for the Adelaide Test, which returns to daytime conditions this year. Australia coach Andrew McDonald said the fast bowler remains on track to feature later in the series.

“I know that he'll be available at some point during the series,” McDonald said. “There's still some early rehab to get through, but we expect him to take part.”

Cummins, meanwhile, impressed in the nets ahead of the opening Test and continues to build towards full fitness. McDonald said the focus is now on ensuring his body can handle the demands of Test cricket.

“The intensity was there, the ball speed was there,” McDonald noted. “There’s a lot of positives, but now it’s about building resilience in the soft tissue and making sure we don’t accelerate things too quickly.”

The Ashes schedule remains relatively spread out in the early stages, with an 11-day gap between the first two Tests after the two-day finish in Perth. However, the series tightens after Adelaide, with only four days separating the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne and the New Year’s Test in Sydney.

The day-night conditions in Brisbane could again produce a short Test, with pink-ball matches often favouring bowlers. In the current Sheffield Shield round, ten wickets fell in the night session between Queensland and Victoria on day three, hastening the match to an early finish.

That fixture also saw Xavier Bartlett deliver a standout all-round performance with 4 for 35 and a career-best 72. Although Australia’s pace stocks remain strong, Bartlett’s form may have pushed him further up the pecking order.

Michael Neser, who was the spare seamer in Perth, returns to his home ground at the Gabba, where conditions could again suit his pink-ball expertise. His previous two Tests have both come under lights in Adelaide.

The selectors are also monitoring Jhye Richardson, who is working back from shoulder surgery. After bowling 20 overs for the Cricket Australia XI against England Lions, he is expected to feature for Australia A next week.

“This game was a lot about physical preparation,” Richardson said. “The shoulder’s feeling really good and better with each bowl. It’s all part of the process to be ready for four and five-day cricket.”