Australian paceman Josh Hazlewood will miss New South Wales' opening Sheffield Shield clash to ensure he is fully fit for the first Ashes Test later next month.
Hazlewood is a recovering from a side strain he suffered during Australia's recent tour of Bangladesh. However, he says he expects to play in the second and third rounds in the lead into the first Test.
“The side is really good. I’ve been off the full run the last three or four sessions, so getting back to 100 per cent. I’m probably about 85-90 per cent,” Hazlewood said at Australia's ASICS launch of their news kits on Tuesday.
“The timing was a bit unfortunate but it’s given me a chance to freshen up and get some good work in the gym and on the running track. I’m feeling nice and fit.
“It’ll be good to put everything together in club cricket - bowl 10-12 overs; field for a couple of hours.
“You’d much rather play one or two (games), I guess, then freshen up in that third week.
“But you can always just bowl a little bit less at training in those days leading into the Test.
“There’s still a decent enough gap there.”
Prior to returning home from Bangladesh, Hazlewood had played every Test since the 2015 Ashes.
