Josh Hazlewood believes he should be right to return for Australia’s Boxing Day Test showdown with England after being ruled out of the Adelaide match due to a side strain.

Hazlewood said it was still too early to say whether he would be fit for the Third Test after picking up the injury during last week’s series-opening win in Brisbane but was optimistic when interviewed by Channel Seven on Thursday evening.

“It was frustrating at the time, it feels like it’s coming along nicely,” he said.

“It’s only been four days now. Not much progress yet but hopefully over the next week or so we see some vast improvement.

“This side strain is a little bit odd and quite rare, we’re sort of just taking it day by day. We’ve still got a bit of time up our sleeve before Melbourne and we’ll see how we’re feeling come December 26th.”

The paceman has more confidence in the replacement duo of Michael Neser and Jhye Richardson, who have been drafted into the team with captain Pat Cummins also out due to COVID-19 protocols.

“It’s really exciting, I’m keen to watch them have a bowl, especially with the pink ball,” he said.

“Nes in particular has been around the group for the best part of two to three years now and paid his dues in Shield cricket and been the top performer there. I’m keen to see how he goes with the pink ball, it really suits him down to the ground somewhere like Adelaide.”

Warne taunts Hussey over jinxing Warner

Mike Hussey has refused to apologise after Shane Warne accused him in Fox Cricket commentary of putting the mockers on David Warner as he closed in on his hundred.

Hussey said Warner was cruising towards a ton when he looked in command on 91 but he fell short of triple figures for the second match in a row when he was dismissed for 95 late on day one of the Second Test in Adelaide.

“Any apologies yet Huss to Davey Warner,” Warne taunted Hussey.

The former Test batter responded by saying: “As I’ve said I’ve got no control from up here on what’s happening down there, none whatsoever.”

Remarkably, it’s just the third time in his Test career that Warner has been dismissed in the 90s: the second occurred at the Gabba, and the first occurred against South Africa in late 2016… when Warne was again on hand to witness the ultimate commentator’s curse.

Warner is also the first Aussie to record back-to-back 90s in the Ashes since Tommy Andrews back in 1921.

David Warner out on 94 and 95 in this series. First time in 100 years an Australia batsman has failed to convert consecutive 90s into a century in the Ashes. Last Aussie to be dismissed in 90s two times in a row in the Ashes was Tommy Andrews in 1921. #Ashes

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) December 16, 2021

No bubbles despite Cummins ‘farce’

Pat Cummins’ stunning withdrawal from the second Ashes Test as a close contact to a COVID-19 case has thrown Australia’s plans into chaos… and the cricket world has duly lost its mind.

In the ultimate case of ‘wrong place, wrong time’, Cummins found himself in a restaurant on match eve with a COVID-positive case; their brief proximity enough to hand the hosts a potentially Ashes-altering blow.

>> ASHES SCOUT: Clarke doubts Root toss ‘courage’, Ange’s hilarious Warnie confession

The news meant that Michael Neser, after years of carrying the drinks, is making his debut alongside Jhye Richardson in Adelaide, with Josh Hazlewood already ruled out with a side strain. Just as importantly, vice-captain Steve Smith is once again leading Australia, for the first time since the infamous ‘Sandpapergate’ match in Cape Town in March, 2018.

Cricket Australia will monitor the COVID-19 situation in Melbourne and Sydney in the lead-up to the next two Tests after captain Cummins was ruled out.

CA chief executive Nick Hockley said they were happy with the current rules in place which mean players are not restricted to biosecurity bubbles.

Cummins dined with state teammate Harry Conway at an Adelaide restaurant on Wednesday night when a nearby patron received a text to say they had tested positive.

‘‘We’ve got protocols that flex according to the risk level of any different jurisdiction so we’re looking at that every single day,’’ Hockley said.

‘‘I think we’re pretty comfortable that the protocols are what they are for South Australia and then we’ll keep monitoring the situation in Melbourne, we’ll monitor the situation in Sydney.

‘‘Our protocols include that the playing group needs to dine in small groups, and in many ways they’re designed to mitigate precisely the risk we’ve seen unfold very unfortunately here in Adelaide. I think thankfully we’re all devastated that Pat’s unable to play in this Test match but it’s the protocols are working and we’ve only had one player taken out.’

“We tried to strike a balance. We always know there’s a level of risk. I just think we’ve been extremely unlucky.

“With Pat, it’s just a case of wrong place at the wrong time and if you look at the whole balance of managing wellbeing, the alternative is to lock everyone down completely for the whole tour which we’ve learnt over 18 months can have other consequences in terms of mental health and well being.

“I think it’s just a really unfortunate, disappointing situation.”

Reviews go against England

When the match actually began, Marcus Harris was successful with one review but then didn’t score any more runs; England burned one of their own, and then David Warner survived another one by the barest of margins in an eventful first hour.

Harris was ruled out LBW on three but successfully appealed the verdict to third umpire Paul Reiffel but was out soon after to the same bowler, recalled veteran Stuart Broad for no addition to his score, caught down leg side by a diving Jos Buttler.

Warner was then given not out to a ball he missed with England appealing, hoping for him to be given out caught LBW or caught but he was not out to either method.

A short time later, still on one after nearly an hour at the crease, Warner was given not out LBW and England appealed – Reiffel ruled that the ball hit the bat and pad simultaneously and it therefore could not be given out. Ball tracking later revealed the Broad delivery pitched outside leg anyway.

World reacts to Smith’s captaincy return

Cummins’ bowling record, and the threat of injury, meant most felt Smith would have to take the reigns sooner or later, but nobody expected it to be this fast. Just weeks after once again being named to an official leadership position after Tim Paine’s resignation, the once-disgraced skipper will again be wearing the green blazer and tossing the coin at the Adelaide Oval.

It is a remarkable turnaround for a man whose career appeared to be in tatters in the aftermath of the ball-tampering scandal on that fateful tour of South Africa nearly four years ago. A broken Smith wept during his press conference in front of the eyes of the world, faced with a year-long ban that must have been hell for a player who lives and breathes the game.

Since then, though, he won back plenty of the favour he’d lost with his Herculean 2019 Ashes series, in which he compiled a Bradmanesque 774 runs from seven innings in a series dominated by the bowlers; while the esteem in which Cricket Australia held him was evident in his appointment as Cummins’ vice-captain, a position known to be more influential and important than any deputy gone before.

Social media has already lit up over Smith’s return, with some likening it to a TV show…

If Steve Smith returns to the captaincy this way this is basically an episode of Succession #ashes https://t.co/86yjKwRJde

— Cath Durkin (@CDurkinFOX) December 16, 2021

… while others noted that Smith’s cricket fanaticism made him an ideal captain in these COVID-uncertain times.

Pat Cummins invited Steve Smith out for dinner last night but Smudge declined, citing he had 'other plans'#Ashes pic.twitter.com/8BPj0YBQIf

— Andy Rosos (@andyrosos) December 16, 2021

However, neither the captaincy nor the pressure of the Ashes are likely to faze Smith: his superhuman batting average of 61.39 rises even further when in charge.

Steve Smith as Australia captain –

Runs – 3659
Average – 70.37 pic.twitter.com/XfqokVW4zg

— SS49 (@sourabh_49) December 16, 2021

Interestingly, the news means Australia will have had three different captains in their last three Tests: Paine at the Gabba against India in January, Cummins last Test, and Smith now.

The last time that happened to Australia? 1957.

Ray Lindwall 2nd test vs India 1956 when Ian Johnson was injured. Johnson came back for the third test then retired. Ian Craig took over for the tour of South Africa in 57/58.

— Ian Hume (@Kyptastic1) December 16, 2021

‘Farcical’: World reacts to Cummins’ COVID contact

As you’d expect, the news that the number one Test bowler in the world would be ruled out of the Test, mere hours before the first ball, has caused predictable ripples across the cricket world.

Reaction to Pat Cummins news: https://t.co/OA2i6PQzCy

— George Dobell (@GeorgeDobell1) December 16, 2021

The news has led to despair among Australian cricket fans, while England’s will wake up in the morning – or brave the early winter chill with a 3am alarm – to news which instantly gives their Ashes hopes a significant boost.

The Pat Cummins situation is quite incredible. A couple of dozen Covid cases across the state of South Australia and the best cricketer in the world happens to sit next to one of them at dinner

— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) December 16, 2021

South Australia’s strict COVID rules, which require Cummins to isolate for seven days despite testing negative, have been blamed as the reason for the dire situation; with the state and CA slammed for their inflexibility when it comes to the virus.

Pat Cummins ruled out of 2nd Test, despite testing negative. And now must isolate for 7 days. Farcical.

Sports must adapt to Covid and learn to play with it. If a player tests positive, withdraw them, but if they're vaccinated and test negative, play on.

— Shane McInnes (@shanemcinnes) December 16, 2021

AFL outrage merchant and South Australian native Kane Cornes even crossed codes to weigh in on the drama, apologising to Cummins for the rules.

Sorry to Pat and @CricketAus on behalf of all (most) South Australians for our embarrassing rules #Ashes

— Kane Cornes (@kanecornes) December 16, 2021

And of course, the memes wrote themselves.

Patty Cummins when the contact tracers come for him pic.twitter.com/EtKvP04m5j

— Simon (@sdoc23) December 16, 2021

Sports opinion delivered daily 

   

Perennial drinks-waiter’s big break… and what about Starc
It’s an ill wind that favours no one; Cummins’ horrendous stroke of misfortune has, consequently, given debuting quick Michael Neser the chance of a lifetime.

Since being included on Australia’s touring party to England for the 2019 Ashes, the Queenslander has seldom been out of Australia’s Test squad. However, with Cummins ever-present and James Pattinson the long-term next man in line for Josh Hazlewood or Mitchell Starc, it has taken two and a half years for the Sheffield Shield star to receive his opportunity.

Even for this Test, Jhye Richardson was initially preferred as Hazlewood’s injury replacement, before the Cummins news ensured both of them would get their opportunity.

The pair’s record of two Tests between them is the fewest for a pair of quicks in an Australian line-up since Pattinson and Starc made their debuts in late 2011 against New Zealand; a match, tellingly, dominated by the former first-gamer’s five-wicket haul in the second innings. Can Neser do likewise?

Should he, or Richardson, do so, then the Australian selectors will be presented a curly question heading into the Boxing Day Test… especially if England win or force a draw to keep the series well and truly alive. Cummins’ all-but-certain return once out of quarantine, and Hazlewood’s likely recovery from his side strain, could leave Mitchell Starc’s spot in jeopardy if the left-armer can’t find his breathtaking best.

Aside from his iconic first-ball dismissal of Rory Burns at the Gabba, Starc was erratic at times, though was able to hunt for wickets due to the miserliness of Cummins, Hazlewood and spinner Nathan Lyon. Now thrust into the lead role in the Aussie attack, and with a pink ball that has been venomous in Starc’s hands in the past, he simply must return to form… for both his, and Australia’s sake.

Lead the Aussies to victory, and the critics, Shane Warne included, will be forced to eat their words. Fail – especially if that failure results in defeat – and the selectors will have a conundrum once Cummins and Hazlewood are back and firing.

Ultra-classy Cummins’ classy tribute to debutant

The captain’s devastating withdrawal from the Adelaide Test is the first Cummins has missed on home soil since returning to the team in 2017 following his near six-year injury absence.

But if he’s shattered by the shock blow, you wouldn’t know it from this classy social media post, in which the star bowler paid tribute to replacement Neser.

Gutted to miss this Test but really excited to see Neser finally get his chance in the baggy green. He has done the hard yards and is a seriously skilful player. Super frustrating but COVID has thrown us all some curve balls over the last couple of years. Will be cheering along!

— Pat Cummins (@patcummins30) December 16, 2021

Cummins’ message was so heartfelt, it even melted the hearts of the Barmy Army, who responded with a touching message of their own.

Stay safe Pat, see you in Melbourne ????

— England’s Barmy Army (@TheBarmyArmy) December 16, 2021

Sports opinion delivered daily