Ashes injury disaster? Australia could lose two players after Sheffield Shield injuries

Australia could be forced to make significant changes to its first XI for the first Test against England after two fast bowlers were struck down by injury.

NSW duo Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott both left the field of play with hamstring injuries during NSW's Sheffield Shield match with Victoria on Wednesday.

The severity of the injuries are unknown but both pace bowlers will be in doubt to feature against England in the first Test in Perth - starting November 21.

With captain Pat Cummins already out injured, Hazlewood would be expected to lead the bowling attack alongside Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland.

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But with his fitness issue, and the injury to a possible replacement in Abbott, South Australia seamer Brendan Doggett could make his Test debut.

Australia Ashes squad - 1st Test vs. England

• Steve Smith (C)
• Travis Head (VC)
• Usman Khawaja
• Marnus Labuschagne
• Cameron Green
• Beau Webster
• Alex Carey
• Josh Inglis
• Mitchell Starc
• Josh Hazlewood
• Scott Boland
• Nathan Lyon
• Brendan Doggett
• Sean Abbott
• Jake Weatherald

England Ashes squad - 1st Test vs. Australia

• Ben Stokes (C)
• Jofra Archer
• Gus Atkinson
• Shoaib Bashir
• Jacob Bethell
• Harry Brook (VC)
• Brydon Carse
• Zak Crawley
• Ben Duckett
• Will Jacks
• Ollie Pope
• Matthew Potts
• Joe Root
• Jamie Smith
• Josh Tongue
• Mark Wood

When does the 2025/26 Ashes start?

The 2025/26 season's Ashes will start in Perth on November 21, 2025, followed by the Tests in Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney over the next 48 days.

The Ashes 2025/26 Schedule

The 2025/26 Ashes Test series is a part of the World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle. Here is the full schedule for the five-match series: