Australia suffers Ashes scare with Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott being assessed for injuries

In short:

Fast bowlers Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott were unable to bowl after lunch on the third day for NSW against Victoria in the Sheffield Shield.

Neither Cricket Australia nor Cricket NSW could confirm the details of the injury concerns on Wednesday.

What's next?

If fit, Hazlewood would have been a certainty for selection for Australia in the first Ashes Test on November 21, while Abbott provided much-needed cover in the 15-player squad.

Australia has a double injury concern ahead of the first Ashes Test, with Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott both leaving the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) with injuries.

Hazlewood and Abbott were both spotted leaving the ground on day three of the Sheffield Shield game against Victoria and going to a nearby clinic to be assessed.

Neither Cricket Australia nor Cricket NSW could confirm details of the injury concerns on Wednesday.

Any injury to Hazlewood would be of significant concern with the first Test against England in Perth just nine days away.

Australia is already without their captain Pat Cummins for at least the series opener, with the quick expected to be replaced in the XI by Scott Boland.

If Hazlewood was also ruled out, Brendan Doggett would likely be called in to debut.

Hazlewood missed three Tests last summer through injury as he battled side soreness.

Abbott is the other back-up paceman in the Test squad. He took three wickets in six balls on Wednesday before leaving the SCG to be assessed.

AAP

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