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Deputy editor, ESPNcricinfo- Deputy Editor Andrew arrived at ESPNcricinfo via Manchester and Cape Town, after finding the assistant editor at a weak moment as he watched England's batting collapse in the Newlands Test. Andrew began his cricket writing as a freelance covering Lancashire during 2004 when they were relegated in the County Championship. In fact, they were top of the table when he began reporting on them but things went dramatically downhill. He likes to let people know that he is a supporter of county cricket, a fact his colleagues will testify to and bemoan in equal quantities.
Australia have been handed a double injury scare ahead of the start of the Ashes with Josh Hazlewood and Sean Abbott both having scans on hamstring issues during New South Wales' clash with Victoria at the SCG.
The pair did not appear after the lunch break on day three, having left the field during the first session and it was initially confirmed that both were being assessed for an undisclosed issue.
Australia captain Pat Cummins, who has already been ruled out of the opening Test as he recovers from a back injury, confirmed that both men had their hamstrings scanned in the afternoon while he was speaking at a Cricket Australia (CA) partnership announcement near the SCG. Cummins had briefly been at the ground to catch up with the physios only to find out they were being kept busy.
"There was a bit happening there for an hour or so. They both got scans," Cummins said. "Haven't 100% got across all the details. I think Josh, he was pretty chipper when he got out [of the scans], so hopefully he should be fine. Sean, I'm not so sure about. I think they are still assessing.
"Obviously a week away from the Test series kind of always there on the side of caution. So then I wanted to find out what was happening before kind of pushing it and potentially making anything worse."
Cummins reiterated he would not be ready for Perth despite looking in decent shape during a bowling session at the SCG on Tuesday where he said he operated at around 90% and pulled up well. He added he was not concerned about any further potential changes to Australia's attack heading into the first Test despite Hazlewood's scare.
"We'll wait to see how it comes out over the next 24 hours," Cummins said. "As I said, I think Josh is pretty confident when he walked out, so hopefully shouldn't make too much of an issue.
"I think he was a little bit worried, wanting to get it checked out. When he got back, again I only saw him briefly, but I think he was a bit happier afterwards than he was going into the scans."
Hazlewood, who bowled superbly in the recent white-ball against India, had claimed his first wicket of the morning when he removed Sam Harper.
Abbott, who has been named as one of Australia's back-up quicks for the first Test, had ripped through Victoria's middle-order to have figures of 4 for 18.
Hazlewood bowled 18 overs in Victoria's first innings and nine in the second, while Abbott bowled 19 in the first innings and nine in the second. But both men have bowled on all three days after New South Wales only batted for 49.5 overs on day two when they were bowled out for 128, which gave Hazlewood, Abbott and the other New South Wales and Australia Test quick Mitchell Starc very little time to recover.
From Australia's likely Test attack for Perth, Starc, Scott Boland and Nathan Lyon have also been involved in the Shield game at the SCG. The ongoing round of games has also seen Cameron Green return to action with the ball while Beau Webster took eight wickets in the match for Tasmania.
Brendan Doggett, the uncapped South Australia quick, is the other pace bowler in the 15-man squad. He took 5 for 66 against Tasmania in Hobart.
"He's been bowling really well the last couple of games, from what I've seen," Cummins said. "You haven't played a lot against or with Doggy. He missed the first game or two, but he's come back really strongly. He's really well placed to be vying for a spot in that first Test. It's always nice having a squad full of people in form, and he certainly is one of those guys."
If reinforcements were needed for the first Test, Michael Neser would likely head the queue but beyond that, the depth of Australia's reserves would be really tested.