Australia’s talisman Josh Hazlewood has expressed his desire to achieve success overseas. Josh Hazlewood has his eyes set on series triumphs in South Africa, India, and the Ashes in England. For the record, Australia are scheduled to play 14 Tests over the next eight months, commencing with the two-Test series against Bangladesh in Darwin and Mackay.
Tours of South Africa and India flank a four-match home series against New Zealand, while Australia will also host England in the 150th Anniversary Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground next March. Following that is the Ashes later in the winter, prior to which Australia, currently on top of the World Test Championship table, could also feature in the final.
Josh Hazlewood hopes to achieve success on big overseas tours.
Speaking to reporters in Brisbane, Josh Hazlewood said, “This group’s been together for quite a long time now- the majority of it, anyway- and the big series are obviously England and India. I haven’t won in South Africa either, so there’s three that are coming up…a few boxes to tick off there for not just me, but this whole playing group.
He further added, “That’s been a driving factor during this prep, in the back of your head, and even in the months leading into it. They’re some real big Test series, and they’re all away, so it’s tough competition and hopefully we get the job done,”
Josh Hazlewood could be in line for his first Test in thirteen months, having missed the Ashes last summer due to hamstring and Achilles injuries. Having never gone this long a period without playing a Test, he could potentially be in a shootout with Scott Boland for the third seamer’s spot, with chief selector George Bailey suggesting that Boland had narrowed the gap for selection.
Josh Hazlewood on his wish to play alongside Scott Boland.
Josh Hazlewood himself expressed his desire to feature more alongside Boland, who has often had to sit out whenever each of Australia’s three frontline quicks has been fit and available.
Josh Hazlewood said, “I think Boland and I have only played one game together at Edgbaston in the 2023 Ashes and I’d love to play more with Scotty. We’re obviously a little bit similar, but I think there’s still a lot of differences in our bowling,”
Josh Hazlewood acknowledged the team’s preparation ahead of the Bangladesh series, which marks a rare instance of Australia hosting Tests in the month of August. An extensive prep method has seen Hazlewood and his fast-bowling colleagues put in long stunts in Brisbane to warm their bodies up to meet the demands of multi-day cricket.
He said, “This is probably the first time we’ve actually had a lead-in to a Test without any cricket in terms of games. So, we’ve been able to dice them up exactly how we want. It’s been big days on Tuesdays and Thursdays mostly, with some other stuff filtered in around that. And then last week we had a few back-to-back days- Tuesday, Wednesday- and again next week I think will be back-to-back,”
He further added, “Leading into other Test series and Test matches, you’re playing T20, you’re playing one-dayers, you’re travelling, so it’s tough to fit those bowling sessions in. This has been tailor-made for a Test match, which should work out well,”
He concluded, “I’ve looked at it literally as day-in, day-out for the last few weeks here-ticking boxes, getting workloads in. Next week’s another tick, and then once you get through all that, then you look at Darwin,”
The first Test against Bangladesh is scheduled to begin in Darwin on August 13th. Should Hazlewood make the cut to the playing XI, he will look to become the ninth Australian bowler to the 300-wicket mark in Tests as he currently sits on 295 scalps in the format.
The stage is set for the two-Test series to begin, and Hazlewood will be raring to go to make a mark.
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