Ashes 2017-18: Josh Hazelwood Ready For First Ashes Test
May 26, 2023 at 5:31 PM
Josh Hazelwood is all set to make his comeback to the Australian side in the upcoming Ashes series scheduled to begin on 23rd November. The last Ashes series in Australia was a nightmare for the English batsmen, all thanks to fiery spells of fast bowling by Mitchell Johnson. Johnson picked up 37 wickets in the last Ashes on Australian soil and single-handedly won the Ashes for the Aussies.
This time around the bowling reigns will be spearheaded by Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazelwood who are both returning to competitive cricket after an injury lay off. Hazelwood suffered a side strain during the first Test against Bangladesh in August. Before getting injured in the first Test against Bangladesh in Bangladesh, Hazlewood led Australia’s bowling attack in the absence of Mitchell Starc. Hazlewood had played 22 consecutive Tests without an injury or rest. Before missing the Test match against Bangladesh, he last missed a Test match in the 2015 Ashes Series.
Hazelwood returned to the domestic circuit on Saturday when he played for New South Wales in the four day Sheffield Shield game against Western Australia. Hazelwood picked up six wickets for his domestic side in the first match on his return.
Hazelwood was due to play another game for his domestic side before the first Ashes Test on 23rd November but has now pulled out of the match and will join fellow pace man Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Jackson Bird in Brisbane for training.
Hazelwood said:
“Things went pretty well the whole game. From ball one I was pretty surprised with how well the ball was coming out, how good the run-up felt, how good everything (was) in general. I’m pretty happy with where it’s at now so I don’t think there’s a need to play another game. I’m ready to go now and we obviously talk with the coaches and selectors and physios and whatnot, everyone is on the same page and ready to go.”
The Australian team faced another jolt as Nathan Coulter-Nile was ruled due an old back injury and will join James Pattinson on the injury list.
“I feel a bit sorry for Nath, but he’s done a lot of hard work to get back from different things and I’m sure he’ll put in the hard work again and come back from this one.” Hazelwood added.