Ashes: Australia’s Josh Hazlewood ruled out of the first Test in Perth

Hazlewood, who has taken 295 wickets in 76 Tests, was limited to just one appearance in Australia’s last home Ashes four years ago due to a side injury.

While Cummins is believed to be on track to play in the second Test in Brisbane, where he will reclaim the captaincy from Steve Smith, there is no indication of Hazlewood’s standing outside of Perth.

A statement issued by Australia said: “Josh Hazlewood underwent repeated imaging which confirmed a hamstring strain.

“Initial scans on Wednesday were clear of a muscle strain, but subsequent imaging confirmed the injury. Early imaging can sometimes underestimate low-grade muscle injuries.

“As a result, Hazlewood will not travel to Perth and has been ruled out of the first Ashes Test match.”

Along with Cummins, stand-in seamer Sean Abbott has already been ruled out of the first Test with a hamstring injury.

Spencer Johnson and Lance Morris, both capable of high pace, are long-term absentees.

Neser, who is already in Perth after playing in the Sheffield Shield for Queensland last week, gets the call ahead of Fergus O’Neill.

Jhye Richardson, who won the last of his three Test matches against England four years ago, is another option later in the series after recovering from shoulder surgery.

Richardson will continue his return for the Cricket Australia XI against England Lions next weekend.