JOSH HAZ FRIGHT IN STRAIN TO BE READY

SEAN ABBOTT has been ruled out of the first Ashes Test but fellow Australia seamer Josh Hazlewood looks set to play despite fitness concerns.

- BY RORY DOLLARD

Key man Hazlewood (below) left the field with a tight hamstring on the third morning of New South Wales' Sheffield Shield clash against Victoria at the SCG and did not return yesterday. But Cricket Australia (CA) moved to clarify that the paceman, 34, had been cleared to link up with the Test squad as planned.