Aussies sweat on Hazlewood fitness with Adelaide looming

Australia will be closely monitoring the fitness of Josh Hazlewood in the lead-up to the second Vodafone Ashes Test in Adelaide, with the pace ace nursing a mild side strain.

Hazlewood didn't bowl on the third afternoon in Brisbane, and was sent for a scan on Friday night which showed he was at least fit enough to bowl on Saturday.

The right-armer (14-6-32-1) got through six overs on day four and claimed the Jos Buttler in what was ultimately a nine-wicket win for the hosts.

But with the Adelaide day-night Test just five days away, and his pink-ball record reading 32 wickets at 19.90, his fitness will be a key concern for the Australian camp.

"He's a little bit sore," said captain Pat Cummins. "It was good he was able to come out today and bowl, and he got through a really good spell.

"But he's a little bit sore so we're just managing him through – it's a five-Test match summer and he's a key for us, so we don't want to blow him out on day two or three.

"(It's) nothing too serious but didn't want it to turn into a huge injury.

"We don't want to put him in jeopardy for the whole series so we'll take our time.

"(There's) no plan yet – (he will) sleep on it and (we'll) see how he pulls up tomorrow.

"It was nothing scary enough to not bowl today, but still just a little bit to make us want to manage him, which we kind of expected. We'll keep managing it."

Waiting in the wings as part of Australia's Test squad are pace options Jhye Richardson, who appears the next cab off the rank, and the uncapped Michael Neser, who took 5-29 for Australia A against England Lions on Friday.

Richardson debuted in a pink-ball Test at the Gabba in 2019, claiming three wickets, and has been a man in form in the Marsh Sheffield Shield, taking 15 wickets in his two most recent matches.

Opener David Warner is another on injury watch. The 35-year-old is nursing bruised ribs and was not risked today in Australia's second innings, with the target just 20 runs.

"He's fine, we just chose not to risk him," Cummins said. "He had a hit earlier (in the indoor Gabba nets) and got through it – (he was) still pretty sore – but he should be right for Adelaide.

"We'll monitor him but I think he'll be fine. In terms of replacements, 'Uzzie' (Usman Khawaja) is in the squad (but I have) no idea – ask the selectors."

Should Warner not pull up in time for Thursday's second Test, Khawaja looms as the most likely to replace him; the left-hander has a century and two fifties from seven Test innings against the pink ball, and averages 43.85.

South Australia opener Henry Hunt, who scored 33 and 40 for Australia A in Brisbane against England Lions this week, joined the Australia squad today as a substitute fielder.

Queensland opener Bryce Street hit an unbeaten 119 from 254 balls for Australia A against the England Lions to provide selectors with another option.

Vodafone Men's Ashes

Squads

Australia: Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith (vc), Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner

England: Joe Root (c), James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Haseeb Hameed, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood

Schedule

First Test: Australia won by nine wickets

Second Test: December 16-20, Adelaide Oval

Third Test: December 26-30, MCG

Fourth Test: January 5-9, SCG

Fifth Test: January 14-18, Blundstone Arena