Pom’s view: England relishing Aussie injury woes as “lucky break”

England were already hopeful of winning the first Ashes Test in Perth, and that belief continued to build over the weekend after Josh Hazlewood was ruled out of the series opener with a hamstring injury.

That sentiment has been echoed by the English media, with the visitors thinking that this is their best chance of winning a Test in Australia for the first time since 2011.

On the back of the unfortunate Hazlewood news dropping on Saturday, doubled with the fact that Pat Cummins is already sidelined, the English were more than keen to have their say.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan thinks that the injury pile-up could be a sign that the rub of the green is beginning to go their way.

“Hazlewood out of the first test as well as Cummins …” Vaughan posted on X.

“Ominous early signs that the run of the green you require to win big series is swaying England's way …

“Huge chance for them to go 1up in Perth.”

WHAT THE OTHERS SAID

The Telegraph’s Nick Hoult thinks there’s a sense of chaos around Australia’s preparations now, posing the question of whether Ben Stokes has the best chance of any England captain in the last four decades to win an opening Test down under.

“Has an England captain had a better chance in 40 years of winning the first Test of an Ashes series in Australia than Ben Stokes?” Hoult asked.

“The combination of the Bazball approach, which has instilled an unwavering self-belief in England cricketers rarely seen before, and a huge stroke of fortune thanks to Australia’s bowling injury curse breaking up their great band of quicks, gives Stokes and his team an opportunity they must not waste in Perth.

“England have not won the opening Test of an Ashes series in Australia since 1986-87.”

The Times’ Simon Wilde described the Hazlewood news as a ‘lucky break’ for England, particularly as their own quick Mark Wood was cleared of a hamstring injury after feeling a similar tightness in the warm-up game against the England Lions.

Like Vaughan and Hoult, Wilde thinks this is now an opportunity the English can’t let slip, with both of Australia’s quicks set to potentially return for the second Test.

“Without overdramatising things, a match at the Optus Stadium next Friday in which Pat Cummins and Hazlewood are not involved presents England with an opportunity they cannot afford to let slip,” Wilde wrote.

“This is the kind of lucky break which rarely comes in Australia. They must not waste it.”

The first Test between Australia and England begins on Friday in Perth. Listen to every ball LIVE on SEN – your home of cricket.