Cricket Australia officers insist Josh Hazlewood can be match for the World Test Championship and Ashes regardless of flying house early from the Indian Premier League.
After battling accidents for the previous 18 months, Hazlewood reported aspect soreness after his most up-to-date IPL match for Royal Challengers Bangalore on May 9.
That prompted him to return to Australia, the place he has since returned to bowling earlier than being as a result of take off to England with teammates later this week.
The improvement comes little greater than two weeks earlier than the World Test Championship remaining in opposition to India on June 7, with the Ashes beginning on June 16.
“Josh Hazlewood returned home from the IPL last weekend after experiencing minor side soreness after the completion of his most recent IPL match,” CA mentioned in an announcement.
“After a brief and precautionary rest period, Hazlewood returned to high intensity bowling last week and will continue to increase his bowling workloads in preparation for the WTC and Ashes series.
“Hazlewood is taken into account match and obtainable for the WTC and Ashes collection.”
Hazlewood’s fitness has long been a concern.
The quick has been limited to four Tests for Australia since December 2021, after battling side issues in the past two summers.
He was then sidelined for the tour of India with an achilles problem, which delayed the start of his IPL campaign.
Hazlewood remains in Australia’s first-choice three quicks for the Ashes, but there are question marks over how often the trio will play together in England.
Australia have six Tests in the space of eight weeks, with three short turnarounds between matches.
While Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland were the only pacemen picked in the initial squad, Australia will also have Sean Abbott and Michael Neser available in England.
Neser has taken 19 wickets at a mean of 25.63 for county Glamorgan in second division this season, whereas Abbott has taken 16 at 27.81 for Surrey in first division.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
