Josh Hazlewood has confirmed he’s nonetheless considered one of Australia’s key tempo bowlers with a vital four-wicket haul on his Test return in opposition to South Africa.
For a second consecutive summer time, Hazlewood has been hampered by a facet pressure and admitted final week he was an opportunity of being neglected for the Sydney Test after Scott Boland impressed in his absence.
But with figures of 4-48 within the first innings, Hazlewood allayed any issues about his place within the Australian bowling unit’s pecking order.
On his thirty second birthday, the towering paceman single-handedly pegged South Africa again after their most convincing session of the summer time and within the course of stored Australia’s hopes of victory alive.
The Proteas fell to 6-149 at stumps on day 4 on the SCG however on day 5, specialist bowlers Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer staged a comeback because the pitch did not favour spin as a lot as predicted.
Specialist tweakers Ashton Agar and Nathan Lyon went by means of the morning session with out success, with part-time spinner Travis Head claiming the lone wicket of a dour session.
But simply as time seemed to be working out for Australia, Hazlewood dismissed the one two batters who appeared able to serving to South Africa put up a rating adequate to keep away from the follow-on and due to this fact all however finish Australia’s hopes of a collection sweep.
Hazlewood first trapped Maharaj (53) lbw with a size ball that swung in.
The job was not performed as Harmer, enjoying his first Test of the summer time, knocked his strategy to the longest innings by a Proteas batter thus far this tour and appeared on the cusp of a maiden Test half-century.
After inconclusive DRS opinions robbed Lyon of two wickets, Hazlewood stepped up together with his most imperious supply of the innings.
Harmer (47) tried to dam Hazlewood’s size ball, which bounced from outdoors off-stump and into the wicket. The Proteas had been all out for 255 simply six balls later.
