Australia have suffered a setback after one of their star players was ruled out of the remainder of the Ashes series.

Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood, who missed the opening two Tests because of injury, had been hoping to make a return. However, on Tuesday he was ruled out of the rest of the series against England following an injury setback.

Coach Andrew McDonald told reporters that Hazlewood had suffered problems in recovering from hamstring and Achilles injuries and would sit out the remaining three matches.

“Really flat for him. A couple of setbacks that we didn’t see coming,” McDonald said. “We thought he’d play a huge part in the series. But really feel for him that he won’t get that opportunity.”

Hazlewood will now aim to be fully fit for the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, which begins in February.

Fellow fast bowler Pat Cummins looks certain to return as captain when Australia aim to wrap up the series in next week’s third Test in Adelaide.

The 32-year-old has been sidelined since the tour to the West Indies in July with a lower back injury.

McDonald said that Cummins had come through a match-like workload in training last week and was ready to play.

“This is something we’ve done with Pat before with longish lay-offs, where we’ve put some time and effort into rebuilding his body,” said McDonald.

“He simulated pretty much what a match will look like out there with multiple spells. So we feel as though he’ll be as best prepared as can be.”

Mitchell Starc, who leads the bowling charts with 18 wickets in the first two Tests, had battled a left side niggle at the Gabba but would be fit for Adelaide, said McDonald.

– AFP