The former Australian skipper, Aaron Finch reckons that Josh Hazlewood’s injury could see that the pacer gets to choose the games he would be a part of in the future. Josh Hazlewood, who missed the pink-ball Test in Adelaide due to a side strain was back in the side for the third Test at Brisbane, but ahead of the fourth day’s play, scans revealed that he would not be available for the series due to the recurring injury.
After picking up a mild side strain in Perth which kept him out of Adelaide, Josh Hazlewood returned for the third Test in Brisbane but pulled up with a calf strain during the warm-ups on the fourth day. He bowled one over, which was effectively a fitness test, before leaving for scans which confirmed the extent of the injury.
Josh Hazlewood’s Test stats and performance in ongoing series versus India
In 72 Tests, Josh Hazlewood has picked 279 scalps at 24.57 for Australia. In the series opener against India, Josh Hazlewood picked figures worth 4/29 and 1/28. He missed the 2nd Test held in Adelaide. In the 3rd Test, Josh Hazlewood managed 1/22, bowling just six overs. Australia’s selection panel has never been a fan of rotation for workload management.
After a run of ten consecutives Tests starting from Old Trafford in last year’s Ashes through to the first match of this series, this is a return to the pattern that disrupted Josh Hazlewood’s career between 2021 and 2023 where he played just four Tests in a two-year period.
But, this policy might need a re-think to extend the careers of fast bowlers like Josh Hazlewood. Callum Ferguson echoed the same on ESPN’s Around The Wicket, saying a rotation policy might help extend these players’ careers and make the most of them. Despite Josh Hazlewood’s absence, Pat Cummins was confident he and Mitchell Starc could manage in Melbourne and Sydney.
Australian cricketer Aaron Finch has suggested a selective approach to Josh Hazlewood’s Test appearances after his recurring injuries.
Aaron Finch suggests selective approach to Josh Hazlewood’s Test appearances after his injury rules him out of next 2 tests.
Former Australia white-ball captain Aaron Finch has opined that the Australian selectors and team management need to “cherry pick” games for the injury-prone pacer Josh Hazlewood.
While Australia have not believed much in resting their players from test cricket – if a player is fit, he plays has been the norm – Finch reckons they might have to rethink over their policy for Josh Hazlewood, who has dealt with multiple injury breaks since he became an all-format bowler in 2021.
Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the rest of the ongoing BGT 2024-25. He played in the first test, where he suffered a side strain, forcing him to miss the second test. He returned for the third test but pulled up with a calf strain ahead of day 4 and bowled only one over before leaving the field.
Aaron Finch opined that Hazlewood is someone whose workload management will need to be carefully monitored and his selection in the XI should be condition-based. Speaking on ESPN, Finch said,
“With Hazlewood he’s getting injured more and more regularly so that would be a real concern. Think there’s an opportunity to maybe even cherry pick the games that he plays in the future. Everyone knows he’s in that best three bowlers in Australia, or best four adding Nathan Lyon, but you need him on the park… [So, Australia might have to consider] picking the best conditions for Josh Hazlewood to have an impact and rotate the rest around that.”
He stressed on choosing the best conditions for Hazlewood to deliver and rotating others accordingly. This suggestion comes after Hazlewood’s frequent injuries raised doubts over his match availability.
Australia’s big three quicks – Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins – played all Tests last summer against Pakistan, West Indies and New Zealand. The selectors have never really embraced rotation for purely workload management, although they did rest Hazlewood for the Headingly Test in the middle of the 2023 Ashes
Ahead of the start of the BGT 2024-25, Hazlewood was asked about rest and rotation of the Aussie fast bowlers. Hazlewood, though, played down the suggestion, saying
“We field the same question every year – if you’re fit, you play and if you’re not, you don’t play. It’s as simple as that, no one rests a Test match.”
The BGT 2024-25 currently stands locked at 1-1 with two tests to go. Josh Hazlewood could make a possible return to Tests versus Sri Lanka away at the end of January. However, this is only if Cummins misses out on any matches due to personal reasons as Australia are unlikely to field more than two fast bowlers in Galle. Despite his recent injuries, Josh Hazlewood is optimistic about regaining full fitness for Australia’s two-Test tour of Sri Lanka in late-January-February.