Josh Hazlewood says he’d be “disappointed” to overlook out on taking part in within the SCG Test because the veteran fast seems to lock down his spot within the facet following a irritating 24 months.
While his kind with the white ball has improved drastically in recent times, Hazlewood has hardly been seen in Test cricket, managing simply two matches in 2022 and an extra three the 12 months earlier than.
Side strains in every of the previous two years have derailed his house summers, however he’s prepared to tear right into a struggling South African batting lineup in what can be his first match for the reason that Perth Test in opposition to the West Indies.
Hazlewood says he’s totally match after the most recent setback however there’s no assure he’ll be picked for his house Test, with speedster Lance Morris prone to make his debut, whereas selectors are additionally considering selecting two spinners on what ought to be a dry deck.
“I definitely want to be out there,” he stated.
“I think when anyone gets dropped when they’re fully fit, it’s a testament to how good the quicks are at the moment.
“But I guess that’s what happens when you miss out with injury, you give other people an opportunity and they take it. I think that’s how I got my first go with Ryan Harris sitting out and Peter Siddle injured.
“You get your opportunity, then you put pressure on the older guys. I feel like that just comes and goes as your career goes along.
“I’d be definitely disappointed if I missed out.”
With Mitchell Starc out injured, selectors have loads of choices for the Sydney Test, with solely Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon locked in.
Hazlewood and Morris are each in competition, whereas Scott Boland has executed nothing mistaken within the collection and has proven he can take wickets together with his stump to stump line.
But it could be a giant name leaving Hazlewood out given he’s taken 217 Test wickets and has been one among Australia’s most constant performers since he made his debut.
“I still feel like it’s in place, but it’s always good to have pressure,” he replied when requested if there’s a pecking order within the Australian tempo assault.
“Every time Scotty’s played, he’s done remarkably well.
“The Ashes coming up is probably a big one that he’s looking at and he’s sort of a similar bowler to myself and Pat. We potentially could play there all together on a wicket that might seam and swing. It’s great to have options.
“We’re all a little bit different. I’m probably the tallest bowler and probably get the most bounce, whereas Scotty’s more of a skidder and he’s always at the stumps, then there’s Lance with his pace.
“Everyone’s a little bit different and I guess it’s up to the selectors as to what’s going to work best on a wicket like this.”
The reality Hazlewood has missed out on a lot crimson ball cricket over the previous few years has been nice for touring groups, however vastly disappointing for a person on the peak of his powers.
“It’s frustrating, definitely. I don’t feel like I’ve been injured (that long),” he stated.
“It just happens to be at the wrong time of the year after the first Test. The Test matches are so close now that you miss a couple in a row. It’s tough but the rest of the 24 months I’ve been fit and firing.
“It’s frustrating when you think about it like that. You get this little side strain at the end of this Test (the last of the summer) then it’s a different thing. The timing hasn’t been great.”
Hazlewood stated his newest damage was barely totally different to his earlier setback and that medical workers had been investigating to see if there was any connection.
“We probably have to dig a little bit deeper when we have a bit more time,” he stated.
“There‘s obviously a lot been going on in the last few weeks and they (the medical team) are focusing on the guys on the field a lot.
“Behind the scenes, there’s definitely chats with whether it’s Cricket NSW medical staff or Cricket Australia as to if there’s a link here or there or what it could be. I think it’s just part of fast-bowling.
“It’s probably a strength issue at times and then it’s a workload issue at times. They go together.”
