Australia will be minus their entire frontline pace attack during the upcoming ODI series in England, with Josh Hazlewood joining Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins on the sidelines.
Hazlewood was a last-minute scratching on Monday night, with team medicos pulling the pin shortly before the squad’s scheduled departure for London.
The reliable right-armer is dealing with bone stress in his back that is yet to develop into a fracture at this point.
“We are taking a conservative approach and he will not travel to England for the one-day series,” team physio David Beakley said.
Queensland quick Michael Neser, who is yet to play for Australia in any format, has replaced Hazlewood in the touring party.
Neser will fly out a day later, such was the unexpected nature of his call-up.
The prospect of Hazlewood, Starc, Cummins and James Pattinson unleashing fire, brimstone and bouncers in a four-prong pace attack had selectors understandably excited last year.
The pace quartet had never been all fit at the same time, prior to 2017.
But they have since succumb to injuries of varying severity, with Starc (leg) and Cummins (back) unable to fulfil million-dollar Indian Premier League contracts after a taxing tour of South Africa.
Australia’s one-day tour of England is serving as a dress rehearsal for next year’s World Cup, which is being hosted by the UK.
Langer’s first assignment as coach is also the new-look team’s first tour since the cheating scandal derailed their trip to South Africa, ending in long bans for former leaders Steve Smith and David Warner.
The ODI series starts on June 13, while Australia’s first game is a warm-up fixture against Sussex next Thursday.
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