Josh Hazlewood unsure of his participation in 4th Ashes Test

Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has suffered a 'slight tear' in his rib cage muscle and is unsure if he will be fit for the fourth Ashes Test in Sydney, starting january 5.

Hazlewood who had picked up three wickets in the first Test in Brisbane missed the day-night Test in Adelaide due to a side strain. 

"I'm still a little bit away, (this Test) is probably a week early," Hazlewood told SEN.

"We're still not sure, we're going to take this week as it comes and likely have a bowl on Day 3 or Day 5, see how that goes and then build up from there.

"The workloads are still there from the first Test, but obviously I haven't had a bowl in 10-12 days and we'll see how it goes on Day 3."

Hazlewood revealed that he will begin bowling in the nets on the third of the ongoing Boxing Day Test in Melbourne will rely more on feel than any medical advice.

"It's probably more on feel this one, it's a bit of an interesting one, it's the intercostal in between the ribs, there's a slight tear," Hazlewood said.

"I've never had it before, I've had the normal oblique side strain, which is the common one, but we're taking each day as it comes and we'll make the decisions on basically how I feel."

Intercostal muscles are a group of intrinsic rib cage muscles.

Australia are leading the five-Test series 2-0.

(With inputs from PTI)