Australia have received a timely boost ahead of the second Ashes Test at the Gabba, with both Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood returning to the nets in Sydney. The fast-bowling duo, who missed the opening Test in Perth due to injury, trained at Cricket Central while New South Wales were in Sheffield Shield action.

Cummins, recovering from a back issue, was seen bowling with the pink ball,an encouraging sign with the Brisbane Test set to be a day-night fixture. According to head coach Andrew McDonald, the Australian captain is nearing the end of his rehabilitation. He noted that Cummins’ intensity and pace in the nets suggested real progress, though the final hurdle remains proving he can withstand the significant workload required in Test cricket.

The two-day finish in Perth has given Australia an extended break before the second Test, which has strengthened Cummins’ chances of returning. With the schedule tightening after Brisbane, his availability would be a major lift for the hosts as they aim to build on their early advantage.

Hazlewood Eyes Adelaide as Australia’s Pace Bench Shows Impressive Depth

Hazlewood, meanwhile, bowled with the red ball as he works his way back from a hamstring strain. Although he is not expected to feature in Brisbane, his presence at training has provided optimism that he will be ready for the third Test in Adelaide. McDonald indicated that the team expects Hazlewood to play a part later in the series once his early rehab phase is complete.

ALSO SEE: Watch: Rishabh Pant smiling after missing easy chance to stump Tristan Stubbs on Day 4 of IND vs SA 2nd Test

Australia’s depth has also been highlighted by impressive domestic performances. Xavier Bartlett’s standout display for Queensland,taking 4 for 35 and scoring a career-best 72,has placed him firmly on the selectors’ radar, though Australia may not need reinforcements if their frontline quicks return as planned. Michael Neser, the spare pacer in Perth, remains another strong option, especially at his home ground in Brisbane.

Jhye Richardson is also edging closer to full fitness after shoulder surgery. He bowled 20 overs for the Cricket Australia XI against England Lions and is expected to feature for Australia A next week. With Cummins likely for the Gabba and Hazlewood targeting Adelaide, Australia’s pace stocks appear to be strengthening at the perfect time.

Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins have made significant progress in their recoveries, returning to bowling ahead of the second Ashes Test, which starts on December 4. Both fast bowlers had missed the opening Test in Perth, which Australia won by eight wickets. Their return to training has boosted hopes of a stronger pace attack for the upcoming matches.

The duo was seen bowling at Cricket Central in Sydney while New South Wales were facing Tasmania in a Sheffield Shield game. Hazlewood is working his way back from a hamstring injury, while Cummins has been recovering from a back issue. During the training session, Hazlewood used the red ball and Cummins bowled with the pink ball, signalling preparation for different match conditions.

Australian head coach Andrew McDonald shared updates on both players. He confirmed that Hazlewood will definitely feature at some point in the series. Regarding Cummins, McDonald said he is progressing well but the team will be careful not to rush him. The coach stressed that they want to avoid pushing Cummins too quickly and risking further injury.

McDonald Shares Injury Timeline and Selection Possibilities

"I know that he'll be available at some point during the series. We've got a little bit of that early rehab to go through to formulate where he may plug into the series, but we expect him to take some part in the series. It looked like a player that was nearing the completion of his rehabilitation. The intensity was there, the ball speed was there. There's a lot of positives, but now it's just really building that resilience within the soft tissue and making sure that we're not putting him in harm's way in terms of accelerating it too much," stated McDonald, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

See Also: Ravindra Jadeja breaks 115-year-old record during IND vs SA 2nd Test in Guwahati

While Cummins has a chance of returning for the pink-ball Test, Hazlewood is expected to be fully available from the third Test onward. If both return, Scott Boland and Brendan Doggett are likely to make way despite their strong performances in Perth. Mitchell Starc was the standout bowler in the first Test, taking a 10-wicket match haul and earning Player of the Match for his exceptional effort.

Australia have suffered a body blow ahead of the opening Ashes 2025/26 Test at the Optus Stadium in Perth next week as their veteran pacer, Josh Hazlewood, has been ruled out of the opening game in Perth with a hamstring injury. He was cleared when he left the field during New South Wales’ Sheffield Shield clash against Victoria at the SCG. He won’t travel to Perth this weekend, as they have also lost Sean Abbott to a hamstring injury. 

Hazlewood, who has 295 wickets in the longest format, was in superb form against India in the white-ball formats last month and also looked in a great rhythm in Sydney. However, after completing his spell on the third morning, he felt some tightness in his hamstring and left the field immediately.

See Also: Watch: Vaibhav Suryavanshi smashes Harshit Kaushik for 30 runs during ACC Men’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025

The lanky pacer walked to a clinic next door to the SCG to have a scan, which, before the match had finished, returned clear. The national side is already missing their captain and star pace bowling all-rounder, Pat Cummins, for the opening fixture.

Australia add Michael Neser as cover for injured pacers for Ashes 2025/26 Perth Test

Since the beginning of 2014, Australia have only played twice at home in a Test match without Cummins and Hazlewood, but won on both occasions. Those games were against England in 2021 and against West Indies in 2022, which are also the two Tests Neser had played. Hazlewood’s injury means that Brendan Doggett could be closing in on a Test debut.

“Initial scans on Wednesday were clear of muscle strain; however, follow-up imaging today has confirmed the injury. Early imaging can occasionally underestimate low-grade muscle injuries.” Cricket Australia expressed in a statement. England would also likely miss their star pacer, Mark Wood, with hamstring tightness.

“Hopefully by Perth, I'm up there near 100%, and then see where we're at. It's still pretty aggressive, going from nothing to trying to get ready for a Test match in four weeks. But we're going to give it a good shot.” Pat Cummins expressed and is likely to return for the second Gabba Test.

A week before The Ashes, Australia sustained multiple injury concerns in the form of superstar pacer Josh Hazlewood and reserve pacer Sean Abbott. Both of the seamers were sent for scans on day three of the Sheffield Shield clash between New South Wales and Victoria at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Because of the niggle, none of them returned to the field for the remainder of the day.

Speaking about the double injury concerns, Australia captain Pat Cummins provides updates. Because of a back issue, Cummins, who was already ruled out of the first Test against England, was informed that the niggle of Hazlewood was probably not too serious, and he is hopeful to see him in the highly anticipated Test series. Though, he was not so optimistic about the availability of Sean Abbott.

"Joshy (Josh Hazlewood) was pretty confident when he walked out, so hopefully it shouldn’t be too much of an issue. It’s rare to get him chipper, so it was good to see him smiling. He knows his body really well. I think he was a little bit worried and wanted to get it checked out. I only saw him briefly, but he was a bit happier afterwards," Cummins said about Josh Hazlewood. Later,

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RCB skipper Rajat Patidar also got injured ahead of IPL 2026

Cricket Australia, in a statement, informed that the ace pacer is all clear to join the national camp for the Ashes. "(Hazlewood) underwent precautionary scans, which have cleared him of muscle strain. He will train as planned in the lead-up to the first Test in Perth," Cricket Australia said in its statement. 

The niggle of Josh Hazlewood not only worried the Australian cricket fans but also the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans, as their IPL 2025 winning captain, Rajat Patidar, is already out with a muscle injury and is expected to remain out of action for about four months. As of now, it is unclear when Patidar could make a comeback into competitive cricket. If the nature of the injury he sustained proves more serious, then the RCB skipper can miss the initial few matches of IPL 2026. 

In a major twist before the Ashes, Australia has released Travis Head from its T20I squad against India to get ready for the Test series. The explosive left-handed batsman will miss the last two T20Is to play South Australia in a Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania in Hobart next week, his first first-class match since the tour of the West Indies in July. 

The decision apparently was left to Head, who decided to have productive practice in red-ball format heading into the Ashes. The 31-year-old has a key spot in Australia's T20I setup, but chose preparation in long format instead of limited overs cricket. The No. 5 spot in Australia's Test setup is critical and he will be a major player with his counter-attacking style in the middle order when the Ashes start.

Head is a player who is going through a lean period in white-ball cricket, as he has only scored a top score of 31 runs after hitting a brilliant 142 against South Africa during the month of August. On the ongoing tour to India, he has scored just 34 runs at an average of 17 in T20Is and 65 runs in three ODIs. He is likely to be replaced by either Matthew Short or Josh Philippe as an opening partner for Mitchell Marsh in the other two matches. 

ALSO SEE: [WATCH] Harmanpreet Kaur attempts to touch Jay Shah's feet after winning Women's World Cup 2025 as video goes viral

Hazlewood, Abbott, and Sangha Released for Domestic Duties as Australia Eye Strong Finish to T20I Series

Meanwhile, in the past day, senior players have been released from the squad to focus on their domestic commitments. Fast bowlers Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott will feature for New South Wales in their Sheffield Shield match against Victoria at the SCG. Hazlewood had already finished his two-match T20I involvement, but Abbott's exit will allow left-arm quick Ben Dwarshuis to return to the squad after recovering from a calf injury.

Leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha has also been given permission to play for NSW in the One-Day Cup before rejoining the national team for the fourth T20I on the Gold Coast. The T20I series is now tied at 1-1 after India claimed a five-wicket victory in Hobart, setting up an exciting conclusion to the last two games. 

Australia T20I Squad (for remaining matches): Mitchell Marsh (c), Matthew Wade, Tim David, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Short/Josh Philippe, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Tanveer Sangha, Jason Behrendorff.

India batter Abhishek Sharma has already faced and beaten many top players in world cricket early in his career. He has quickly reached the top of the ICC T20I rankings and holds a record rating. Still, he couldn’t believe what he saw from fast bowler Josh Hazlewood in the second T20I against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Friday.

Hazlewood bowled four overs with the new ball, taking three wickets and giving away only 13 runs at an economy rate of 3.2. His spell caused India to collapse to 49/5 in eight overs. If not for Abhishek’s brilliant 68 runs off 37 balls, India wouldn’t have come close to their final score of 125 all out.

The left-hander faced Hazlewood for only four balls and scored six runs, which included a lucky boundary past the wicketkeeper.

Also Read -[WATCH] Rishabh Pant celebrates 50 during India A vs South Africa A 1st unofficial Test

Abhishek Sharma Praises Hazlewood’s Bowling Masterclass

“I was watching him in the ODIs too, so we knew he would challenge us,” Abhishek said in the post-match press conference after Australia chased down the target with four wickets in hand. “But the way he bowled today even surprised me. I haven’t seen something like this in T20s. It was something new for me as a batter who always wants to attack. But he had a plan, and he executed it perfectly,” he added.

Enjoying the Challenge

When asked if he was relieved that Hazlewood would not play the remaining matches to prepare for the 2025–26 Ashes, Abhishek smiled and said, “Oh, is he? I didn’t know that. But yes, he is good enough to play all formats. Still, I was enjoying this challenge because as a batter, you have to face world-class bowlers, and that’s what I was trying to do,” he added.

Watch the now-viral reaction here:

Abhishek Sharma got absolute donuts out of Travis Head, but his reaction to finding out Josh Hazlewood wasn't playing the rest of this series was priceless 😂 #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/mMaz0fAnQN

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 31, 2025

Australia lead the series 1–0 after a washout in Canberra and a win in Melbourne. The third T20I will be played on Sunday in Hobart.

After the ODI series, India is taking on Australia for a 5-match T20I series. After the 1st T20I match was washed out, India took on Australia in the 2nd T20I at MCG. After a great batting display by Indian batters in 1st T20I, the picture in 2nd T20I was totally different.

In Canberra, Indian Batters seemed in great form, and after washing off, it was expected they would carry this form in the 2nd match. But nothing like this happened at MCG. Josh Hazlewood made a difference with his bowling. Hazlewood always bowled with precision, which created trouble whenever any batter faced him. 

While batting first, Indian batters crumble in Hazlewood's storm. He was also seen in good form in 1st T20I as well. He took early and crucial wickets of Shubman Gill, Skipper Suryakumar Yadav, and other power hitters. His brilliant bowling put the host nation in the driving seat.

See Also: [WATCH] Abhishek Sharma charges Xavier Bartlett for 6 during AUS vs IND 2nd T20I at MCG

Josh Hazlewood Strikes; India’s Batting Collapses:

Since the ODI series, Josh Hazlewood has been exceptional in every match. In every match, he created a big difference between the two teams with his brilliant bowling spell. Though the first T20I was washed out, Hazlewood was the only wicket-taker. In the next one, he rattled India’s heavy power-packed top order with his brilliance.

Hazlewood dismantled India’s top order, starting with Shubman Gill’s dismissal in the third over. His devastating third over of the spell — the fifth of the innings — saw him remove Tilak Varma and captain Suryakumar Yadav in quick succession, conceding just a single run. Both batters, known for their explosive stroke play, were undone by his precision and pace. In his spell, a catch was dropped as well.

In the 2nd T20I match, Josh bowled an exceptional spell. In his spell, he only conceded 13 runs, at an economy of 3.20, and picked up 3 crucial pillars of India’s top order; Shubman Gill, Skipper Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma. His experience helped Australia take the lead in the series and win the match by 4 wickets.

Team India will face Australia in a three-match ODI series starting in Perth on Saturday, October 19. The Men in Blue will aim to take revenge for their 1-2 loss when they last toured Australia for an ODI series in 2020-21. On the other hand, Australia will look to bounce back after losing their last ODI series 1-2 against South Africa at home earlier this year. The Aussies will also seek revenge for the four-wicket loss they suffered against India in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai.

However, the hosts will miss some key players. Regular captain Pat Cummins is injured, while Glenn Maxwell and Steve Smith have retired from ODIs. As a result, skipper Mitchell Marsh will lead the side and hope to perform well for the reigning 50-over World Champions. He will have strong support from opener Travis Head and pacers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.

Adam Zampa, Alex Carey, and Josh Inglis will not play the first ODI but will join the team for the last two matches. Meanwhile, Marnus Labuschagne will aim to prove himself after returning to the ODI squad, replacing Cameron Green, who was ruled out due to injury.

In this article, we look at the key Australian players who could challenge Team India in the upcoming ODI series.

Also Read -WATCH: End of Suryakumar Yadav era? Rise of Shubman Gill worries India's T20I captain!

1. Mitchell Marsh

Mitchell Marsh, Australia’s stand-in captain for the ODI series against India, will look to lead from the front in Pat Cummins’ absence. The all-rounder has been in fine form with the bat. He scored 88 and 100 in the first and third ODIs against South Africa in August. Marsh also shined in the T20I series against New Zealand, hitting 85, 9*, and 103* as Australia won 2-0.

Marsh enjoys playing against India, scoring 473 runs in 11 innings at an average of 59.12, including one century and three fifties. With the ball, he has taken four wickets in six innings at an economy of 6.37. However, he hasn’t bowled since missing the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy due to a back injury.

2. Cooper Connolly

Young all-rounder Cooper Connolly could be Australia’s surprise weapon against India. The 22-year-old has impressed in both domestic and international cricket. He had a strong BBL season last year, scoring 351 runs in 10 innings with two fifties and picking up six wickets.

Connolly took a brilliant 5/22 against South Africa in his last ODI, helping Australia win by 276 runs. During the Australia A tour of India, he also performed well with the bat, scoring 70, 33, 50*, and 64 in four innings. His all-round ability makes him one to watch in this series.

3. Josh Hazlewood

Josh Hazlewood has always been a major threat to India across formats. The 34-year-old pacer’s accuracy and bounce make him deadly in home conditions. He has taken 17 wickets in 11 ODIs against India at an economy rate of 5.41, including 3/38 in the 2023 World Cup final and 2/60 in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.

Hazlewood dismissed both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the Champions Trophy clash. Overall, he has 78 wickets against India in all formats. Interestingly, he has dismissed Kohli five times in ODIs, conceding only 58 runs off 98 balls. Kohli also struggled against him during the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, falling outside off-stump multiple times.

As India and Australia gear up for their much-anticipated ODI series starting on October 19 at Optus Stadium, Perth, the focus will be on two bowlers: Mohammed Siraj and Josh Hazlewood—a pair of proven accuracy and effectiveness in fast, limited-overs bowling. 
With Jasprit Bumrah rested, Siraj comes back to lead India's attack and will look to grab a spot after he missed the 2025 Champions Trophy. Meanwhile, Australia will look to Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc to take over for the injured Pat Cummins. 

Pace Battle: Siraj's Fire vs. Hazlewood's Accuracy 

Both players have had success given their different styles: Siraj providing aggression and swing and Hazlewood control and discipline. 
Siraj made his international debut in 2019 against Australia, taking 71 wickets in 44 ODIs. His best bowling figures of 6/21 came against Sri Lanka in 2023 when he tore through their batting order. 

Hazlewood made his ODI debut in 2010 against England and has proven to be one of Australia's most reliable pace bowlers. He has 72 wickets thus far in ODIs, also in 44 matches, as he remained consistent from his first match.

Statistics That Count: Average, Strike Rate, and Economy Referring to his bowling metrics, Siraj sustains a bowling average of 24.04 and a strike rate of 27.82 for an economy of 5.18. This illustrates that he gets wickets routinely without conceding many runs.

Hazlewood has been marginally more economical in terms of runs per over at 4.47, while maintaining a strong average of 25.15 and strike rate of 31.86 in his first 44 ODIs.

See Also: [WATCH] “Good friendship…”- Yashasvi Jaiswal shares bond with Shubman Gill and his leadership

Impact in Victories: Delivering When It Counts

Siraj's performance is at its peak when India wins. Out of 44 ODIs, India has won 33 with Siraj in the line-up—during which he has taken 59 wickets at an average of 20.47, a strike rate of 25.44, and an economy of 4.83. 

Hazlewood's record in winning causes is similarly sound. In his first 44 ODIs, Australia won 26, and the seam bowler picked up 45 wickets (with an average of 24.58 and economy of 4.76)—showing his penetrative spells and excellent control.

With nearly identical numbers after 44 ODIs, both Siraj and Hazlewood stand shoulder to shoulder statistically. Siraj’s aggression and wicket-taking bursts are perfectly matched by Hazlewood’s discipline and consistency.
As India and Australia lock horns in Perth, this battle between two world-class pacers could well decide who takes the upper hand in the opening ODI clash.

New Zealand is all set to host its neighbour, Australia, for a 3-match T20I series. The New Zealand vs Australia 1st T20I match is scheduled to take place on Wednesday at the Bay Oval cricket stadium.

The two teams have met 19 times in the past, and Australia holds an advantage with 13 wins. New Zealand has managed to score 6 wins in the past. In the last 6 matches, Australia has managed to win 4 matches, and New Zealand stand with 2 wins in the T20I format. 

NZ vs AUS Match Details

Date: 1st October, 2025

Time: 11:45 PM IST

Venue: Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui 

Live Streaming: Fancode  

NZ vs AUS Weather & Pitch Report 

Whether Report -

There are no signs of any rain interruptions throughout the game. It is pleasant conditions and perfect throughout the game.

Pitch Report -

• Avg 1st innings score: 175-185

• The chasing team has an advantage

Also Read: ICC Women's ODI World Cup 2025: AUS-W vs NZ-W Today Match Prediction– 2nd Match, Who will win today?

Top Batters to Watch in NZ vs AUS

• Mitchell Marsh (AUS) - 1799 runs in T20I

• Devon Conway (NZ) - 1542 runs in T20I 

• Marcus Stoinis (AUS) – 1245 runs in T20I 

Top Bowler to Watch in NZ vs AUS

• Ish Sodhi (NZ) - 150 wickets in T20I 

• Adam Zampa (AUS) - 130 wickets in T20I 

• Josh Hazlewood (AUS) - 73 wickets in T20I 

NZ vs AUS Recent Form

NZ vs AUS Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1- If NZ bats first

• First Innings score prediction- NZ is expected to score 180-190 runs

• Result prediction- NZ will win the match by 15-20 Runs 

Scenario 2- If AUS bats first

• First Innings score prediction- AUS is expected to score 160-170 runs.

• Result prediction- NZ will win the match by 4 wickets 

NZ vs AUS Predicted Playing XI

New Zealand (NZ) Playing XI 

Tim Seifert (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell, Michael Bracewell (c), Mark Chapman, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy.

Australia (AUS) Playing XI

Mitchell Marsh (c), Travis Head, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Owen, Tim David, Alex Carey (wk), Matthew Short, Xavier Bartlett, Ben Dwarshuis, Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa.

NZ vs AUS Complete Squad

New Zealand - 

Michael Bracewell (c), Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Bevon Jacobs, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi

Australia -

Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Matt Kuhnemann, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa

NZ vs AUS Today Match Prediction - Who Will Win Today?

New Zealand to win

We predict that New Zealand will win the 1st T20I match. The likes of Tim Seifert, Rachin Ravindra and Michael Bracewell will be key players to watch out for.

Get the NZ vs AUS match prediction, playing XI, weather report, and fantasy tips for the 1st T20I Match of the Australia tour of New Zealand 2025. Who will win today?