Forgotten fast Josh Hazlewood is near bowling at full tempo and is more and more assured he will likely be match for Australia’s World Test Championship remaining.
Despite leaving the Indian Premier League early on account of a aspect situation, the 32-year-old was included in Australia’s 15-man squad to face India at The Oval.
Hazlewood is ramping up his bowling masses at coaching and will surge into the XI for the WTC decider, beginning on June 7.
“My fitness is pretty good and it is just a matter of ticking off every session from here,” Hazlewood advised the ICC web site.
“We will probably have anywhere from three to four more sessions – bat versus ball and then a couple of longer days in the nets as well or centre wicket down in London – so it is just ticking off those last few boxes and pulling up well from every session.
“It was fairly shut (to full tempo in Tuesday’s session).
“I came down for a little bowl (on Monday) just to loosen up and to get a bit more out of today’s session, so it is feeling good.”
Hazlewood has struggled for constant time on the sphere and has been restricted to 4 Tests for Australia since December 2021.
He didn’t play throughout Australia’s four-Test tour of India in February and March, along with his final five-day match coming towards South Africa on the SCG in January.
Hazlewood is within the squad alongside fellow quicks Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland.
Australia went in with only one recognised quick bowler in three of the 4 Tests in India, however will rely closely on tempo in the course of the WTC remaining and the upcoming Ashes.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
