The Australian head coach, Andrew McDonald, has provided a huge update on Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins ahead of the second test of the Ashes 2025/26.

The stage is set for the second test of the ongoing Ashes 2025/26. Australia and England will lock horns in the second Test at the Brisbane Cricket Ground starting on December 04.

Josh Hazlewood was ruled out of the first Ashes Test due to a hamstring strain and is also set to miss the second test of the series.

Addressing the duo’s availability, Australia head coach Andrew McDonald came forward and provided the injury update on 34 year 34-year-old Josh Hazlewood, saying that Hazlewood will surely play some part in the series, and is expected to feature in the third test.

“He’s working through the first week of his rehab. I’m not sure that we need to give an update on that. Once he gets further down the track and (we) have some rough timelines, then we’ll be in a position to communicate that,” said McDonald.

“I know that he’ll be available at some point during the series. We’ve got a little bit of that early rehab to go through to formulate where he may plug into the series, but we expect him to take some part in the series,” he added.

On the other hand, Pat Cummins, who missed the first test due to a lumbar bone stress injury in his lower back, is expected to make his comeback during the Brisbane Test.

“It looked like a player who was nearing the completion of his rehabilitation. The intensity was there, the ball speed was there. There’s a lot of positives, but now it’s just really building that resilience within the soft tissue and making sure that we’re not putting him in harm’s way in terms of accelerating it too much,” Andrew McDonald said.

“But it will be a genuine discussion leading into this Test match. That may be one that eventuates late for us. A little bit to work through, but it’s nearing completion, which is really, really positive,” he added.

With Australia securing a 1-0 lead in the series, the second test will be played between December 04 and 08 at The GabbaBrisbane.