Josh Hazlewood has flown home early from the Indian Premier League with side soreness, in a concerning sign for the Australian camp ahead of the World Test Championship decider and Ashes tour starting next month.
Hazlewood was omitted for Royal Challengers Bangalore’s last qualifying game after suffering through a side issue. He was also sidelined by injury earlier in the competition.
Cricket Australia confirmed to The Age that Hazlewood had departed the IPL because of a side complaint but said examinations had shown no signs of a side strain.
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As a result, Hazlewood will continue to bowl and train as he prepares for the six Test stint in England.
Hazlewood’s career has been plagued by overuse soft-tissue injuries.
Side strains cruelled the 32-year-old’s last two summers, restricting him to just four Tests since the start of the 2021-22 Australian summer.
He was also ruled out of the Border–Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year.
He travelled with the Australian squad to India before being sent home to continue his rehabilitation.
Members of the Australian squad and staff not already in the UK are scheduled to depart for England on Friday for a training camp ahead of the World Test Championship final against India from June 7-11 and the start of the Ashes on June 16.
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