London, Aug 19 (IANS) Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood will miss the fifth and final Ashes Test starting on Thursday as he will be flying back home to recover from minor niggles, following a busy year of cricket.
Australia’s coach Darren Lehmann confirmed the news.
England have already won the Ashes 3-1 with just the The Oval Test to go.
“Josh has played six Tests since the West Indies tour and the last nine Tests for Australia, as well as playing an important part in the World Cup,” Lehmann said in a press conference on Wednesday.
“He has managed to get through this period without any major injury which is pleasing, though currently he does have some niggling problems that we would like to manage,” the coach said.
Hazlewood has played nine Tests and taken 40 wickets since his debut against India in Brisbane in December 2014.
He has also featured in 11 One-Day Internationals (ODI), playing the perfect side role to Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson in the 2015 World Cup winning campaign at home.
“As such, he was not considered for selection for the fifth Test. On his return to Australia his niggles will be investigated further and he will work with our coaches, and our medical and fitness staff to have him prepared for the next series he is selected to play in,” Lehmann said.
This means 22-year old pacer Pat Cummins is all the more a certainty to play, following an impressive tour game against Northamptonshire in which his teammates could not impress as much.