Hazlewood cleared of injury but Sean Abbott ruled out of Test
The bowler has claimed 295 wickets at an average of 24.21 during his 76-Test career
Josh Hazlewood has been cleared to link up with Australia's squad for the first Ashes Test following fitness concerns, but fellow pace bowler Sean Abbott has been ruled out
The two experienced muscle problems playing for their state team versus Victoria in the Sheffield Shield this past Wednesday
Scans showed Hazlewood (34) avoided muscle damage. The uncapped Abbott, 33, sustained a significant hamstring issue
Team captain Cummins will miss the initial match, starting November 21, so the loss of another established pace bowler in Hazlewood might have represented a major blow
Abbott would have been doubtful to feature during the Western Australia Test, as Hazlewood prepares to team up Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland forming the fast bowling unit
Cummins, currently healing from spinal concerns, appears to be likely to comeback for the Brisbane match beginning December 4 in Brisbane
Top-order player Smith takes over leadership while Cummins is out
Like many of Aussie squad members, Hazlewood participated in recent matches of domestic cricket ahead of the historic rivalry
Prior to recently, he hadn't featured a first-class match with his state team since last season
He felt tightness in his hamstring near the conclusion of the opposition's batting during the match exiting the play as a precaution
Neither Hazlewood nor Abbott batted in New South Wales' second innings in a losing cause by three hundred runs
"We're a week away until the Test matches - always err on the side of caution," commented Cummins
"The medical staff sought to identify the exact situation prior to testing it and possibly causing the injury more severe"
"He seldom shows him cheerful, so it was good observing his positive demeanor"
"He's aware of his condition really well. I think he was a little bit worried (and) wanted to get medical assessment"
Abbott has won 57 international selections with the national team in ODI and T20 cricket
The yet-to-debut the pace bowler provides bowling backup among the selections, acting as backup for the main pace trio
