Sydney, Aug 9 (CRICKETNMORE): In a major blow for Australia, pacers Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins have been ruled out of the upcoming Test tour against Pakistan, it was announced on Thursday.
After their omission, Mitchell Starc will be the only member of Australia's Ashes-winning pace trio to feature on the tour, expected to be held in the United Arab Emirates in October.
Hazlewood and Cummins were set to play their first Test series since the ill-fated tour of South Africa earlier this year.
Australia's men's team physiotherapist David Beakley said the duo are on track to make a return during September's JLT One-Day Cup with New South Wales ahead of the start of the international season.
"Pat and Josh are progressing well from their lumbar bone stress injuries but are not bowling, so unfortunately they will not be at the level required for Test match intensity come October," Beakley was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.
"Barring any setbacks, we are hopeful that Pat and Josh will return via the back-end of the JLT One-Day Cup, with the aim of them being available for the ODI Series against South Africa in November as they build towards the Indian Test Series," he added.