Dukes dynamo Michael Neser was as shocked as anybody to learn of Josh Hazlewood's back injury, having watched the paceman impress in the nets on Monday.

Neser, who has been called up for Australia's tour of England in place of Hazlewood, was among the top-up players invited to train with the ODI squad in Brisbane.

Medicos decided late on Monday it would be best if Hazlewood skipped the trip to London because of his back problem, worried it could develop into a stress fracture.

The squad change came so late that Neser didn't board the team's flight on Monday night, instead departing a day later by himself. "It caught me off guard a little bit," Neser told reporters in Brisbane on Tuesday.

"He (Hazlewood) was bowling quite well actually. That was the last thing I was expecting, for Josh to be ruled out. It's really disappointing for him. I'm looking forward to going over. Mum is through the roof, she was on the phone to me last night in tears."