Australian bowler suffers Achilles setback ahead of Ashes
After a shot that went over Green’s head, Carse double-bluffed with a direct shot to Australia’s No. 5, who was playing very well. Green tried to create space for himself to shoot, but as he went towards the leg side, he lost his balance and could not hit the ball.
The blow to the finger may have affected it.
Brydon Carse defeated Cameron Green. Credit: Getty Images
On the next ball Carey was dropped by Ben Duckett and two later Smith faced a terrific catch from Will Jacks who took the ball from deep square behind him. Bowling just once, the Jacks had a responsibility to be useful in this match.
Australia’s relentless effort to stay on was almost unresolved, but steady and late contributions from Carey (46 not out), Josh Inglis (23) and Neser (15 not out) enabled the home side to convert their platform with three days remaining.
After a duck and 23 in the first match, Weatherald’s approach was the closest Australia had seen to David Warner since his opening Test retirement almost two years ago. He soared outside and played with the freedom of a player who is truly confident in his game, smashing 12 fours and sixes.
Australia were 0-0 down with 20 possessions to spare before launching a terrific counter-attack before the 40-minute main half.
Jake Weatherald cuts.Credit: Getty Images
In the first interval Australia improved to 1-130 from 21 overs, with Weatherald making his maiden Test half-century in his second match and finishing the session unbeaten on 59 off 56 balls.
Travis Head, top of the order following his match-winning performance in Perth, contributed 33 points but needed to make it three when goalkeeper Jamie Smith reduced Archer’s regulation advantage.
All afternoon and evening the crowd in Brisbane jeered Smith every time he touched the ball.
Australia’s opening stand of 77 ended with Head misfiring a shot to the leg side of Carse which was comfortably hauled out by Gus Atkinson.
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Weatherald eventually cemented his place at the top of the order with a strong score of 72 from 78 balls; Labuschagne, on the other hand, crossed 1000 runs in the pink ball Tests, becoming the first player to achieve this in Tests. He crossed 1000 runs with a very important 65 points.
“It’s an absolute disaster,” former England pacer Stuart Broad said on Channel Seven of the tourists’ bowling efforts. “They seem to lack the match awareness, match fitness and mental acuity to bowl six balls at the same spot.
Meanwhile, Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has suffered yet another injury bug, casting fresh doubts over his involvement in the remainder of the Ashes series in what has become a hugely frustrating run.
The piece revealed that Hazlewood, who is recovering from a hamstring injury suffered in last month’s Sheffield Shield match against Victoria in NSW, has picked up a new, low-grade Achilles injury.
Josh Hazlewood suffered another injury.Credit: access point
Cricket Australia confirmed the news during play on the second day of the second Test at the Gabba on Friday afternoon.
A timetable for a return to play has not been set but Hazlewood is expected to resume running and bowling next week if his Achilles complaint is resolved. Even so, the latest issue is an inconvenient delay for a bowler who has not featured in either of the first two Tests and is already racing against time to prove his fitness.
Hazlewood was set to travel to Brisbane this week to rejoin the Australian squad and continue his rehabilitation, but the trip was canceled after he complained of pain. He will remain in Sydney for now, leaving his involvement for the remainder of the series in doubt.
The third Test against England begins in Adelaide on December 17, but there are concerns Hazlewood may not be available for the fourth Test at the MCG or beyond.
“Josh Hazlewood reported Achilles pain this week during his rehabilitation from a recent hamstring injury,” a CA spokesperson said in a statement. “This is a low-grade issue and he is expected to resume running and bowling next week.”
Hazlewood had continued to bowl in the nets in recent days but the latest injury has pushed back a potential return to play date.
Regular skipper Pat Cummins is set to return to Australia in the third Test in Adelaide but Hazlewood’s absence is less than ideal for the home side, especially given the 34-year-old’s injury history in recent years.
