### Hazlewood's Injury Woes Cast Shadow Over Australia's Ashes Hopes Australia's cricket team is facing a significant challenge as paceman Josh Hazlewood has encountered yet another injury setback. Initially recovering from a hamstring strain, Hazlewood has now reported Achilles soreness, which complicates his rehabilitation process and raises doubts about his participation in the upcoming third Ashes Test in Adelaide. This latest development is particularly concerning as Hazlewood has already missed the first two matches of the series, and his absence could further weaken Australia's bowling attack during this critical series against England [https://www.rediff.com/cricket/report/australia-sweat-as-hazlewood-suffers-another-injury/20251205.htm, https://www.straitstimes.com/sport/australias-hazlewood-suffers-fresh-injury-setback]. ### Injury Impact and Recovery Timeline 1. **Current Injury Status**: Hazlewood is experiencing Achilles soreness, which has delayed his rehabilitation from a previous hamstring injury. Cricket Australia has indicated that he will not be able to resume running or bowling until next week, which jeopardizes his availability for the Adelaide Test [https://www.channelnewsasia.com/sport/australias-hazlewood-suffers-fresh-injury-setback-5563531, https://www.indiatvnews.com/sports/cricket/josh-hazlewood-encounters-new-injury-during-hamstring-rehab-cricket-australia-confirms-2025-12-05-1020402]. 2. **Potential Impact on Ashes Series**: Hazlewood's participation in the remainder of the Ashes series is now in serious doubt. His absence would not only affect the team's bowling depth but also place additional pressure on the remaining players, including captain Pat Cummins, who is also dealing with injury concerns [https://www.firstpost.com/firstcricket/josh-hazlewood-injury-update-ashes-australia-england-13956965.html, https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cricket/story/josh-hazlewood-achilles-soreness-delays-ashes-2025-return-2831304-2025-12-05]. 3. **Monitoring and Future Decisions**: Cricket Australia is closely monitoring Hazlewood's condition, and a decision regarding his availability for the remainder of the Ashes will be made after assessing his progress post-rehabilitation [https://www.espn.co.uk/cricket/story/_/id/47208799/josh-hazlewood-suffers-achilles-soreness-hamstring-rehab, https://www.thedailyguardian.com/news/sports/josh-hazlewoods-ashes-return-in-serious-doubt-as-new-injury-setback-jolts-australia-full-details-inside-685552]. ### Supporting Evidence and Data - **Injury Timeline**: Hazlewood has already missed the first two Tests of the Ashes due to a hamstring injury and is now facing a setback with Achilles soreness. - **Bowling Performance**: Hazlewood has been a key player for Australia, with 295 wickets in 76 matches at an average of 24, highlighting his importance to the team's success [https://www.insidesport.in/cricket/australias-josh-hazlewood-faces-another-injury-setback-could-be-ruled-out-of-ashes-2025-26, https://www.socialnews.xyz/2025/12/05/hazlewood-suffers-low-grade-achilles-injury-during-rehabilitation-from-hamstring-blow-ca]. ### Conclusion: A Critical Juncture for Australia's Ashes Campaign In summary, **Josh Hazlewood's recent injury setback poses a significant threat to Australia's Ashes campaign**. The following points summarize the situation: 1. Hazlewood's Achilles soreness has delayed his recovery from a hamstring injury, putting his participation in the third Test in jeopardy. 2. His absence could severely impact Australia's bowling lineup, especially with other key players also facing injury issues. 3. Cricket Australia is actively monitoring his condition, with future decisions hinging on his rehabilitation progress. The situation remains fluid, and the Australian team will need to adapt quickly to these challenges as they aim to regain momentum in the Ashes series [https://www.thedailyjagran.com/cricket/ashes-2025-big-blow-to-australia-josh-hazelwood-ashes-return-set-to-be-delayed-because-10284135, https://www.flashscore.dk/news/cricket-the-ashes-australia-s-hazlewood-suffers-injury-setback-in-race-against-time-to-regain-fitness/CnKCxHeL].