Australia's Josh Hazlewood replaced by Jhye Richardson for Sri Lanka Test series
Friday 18 January 2019 22:48, UK
Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of Australia's two-Test series against Sri Lanka with a back injury.
The pace bowler, who was also acting as Australia's vice-captain, has been replaced by Jhye Richardson for the first Test in Brisbane which gets underway on Thursday.
Hazlewood missed Australia's two-Test series against Pakistan in the UAE in September with a similar stress-related injury.
Australia physiotherapist David Beakley is hopeful the injury will not be an issue in terms of Hazlewood's availability for the World Cup in England and subsequent Ashes series.
Beakley said: "Josh has reported some soreness over the last few days and scans have revealed a very early-stage stress fracture in the same lower-back area as his previous injury from last summer.
"He will now begin a rehabilitation program and we are confident he will be available for selection ahead of the World Cup in the UK later this year."
Chief selector Trevor Hohns backed Richardson as the "ideal replacement" for Hazlewood.
"Jhye has had an impressive first half in his Sheffield Shield season and no one could deny he has now continued that form in ODI matches for Australia," Hohns said.
