Josh Hazlewood has set his sights on enjoying the final two Ashes Tests, assured his physique can play by way of a good turnaround for the primary time in two-and-a-half years.
Hazlewood is predicted to return to Australia’s facet for the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford on Wednesday, with Scott Boland the person more likely to miss out.
Under an damage cloud earlier than the beginning of this sequence after lacking the Test Championship last, Hazlewood bowled by way of the primary two Test wins with out subject earlier than being placed on the ice for the loss at Headingley.
An even bigger problem now awaits for him.
While a sequence of facet and Achilles accidents restricted Hazlewood to 4 Tests in two years earlier than this sequence, the opposite notable facet has been his lack of back-to-back matches.
The right-arm fast has not performed a Test on a brief turnaround because the finish of the 2020-21 summer time in opposition to India.
That is the fact that may await him after Manchester, with solely three days scheduled between the tip of Old Trafford and Lord’s.
But Hazlewood is assured it won’t be a difficulty for him.
“Missing Headingley, the reason was probably to set me up for the last two games,” Hazlewood stated.
“I know they’re back-to-back but we haven’t bowled a lot of overs. Hopefully with that work behind me now, I’m in a better position than I was a month ago.
“That kind of places me in a great place to hopefully get by way of these final two video games and and play my function and do what I normally do.”
England’s aggressive batting has meant Australia’s quicks have bowled an average of 105.4 overs between them into the series, compared to the hosts’ workload of 144.
Old Trafford will bring back good memories for the seamer, having taken 6-88 for the match in 2019 to help Australia retain the Ashes.
A similar chance awaits in this Test, with a victory enough to secure Australia their first series win in England since 2001.
Hazlewood said he had been happy with how he had bowled on return from the long lay off of injuries, having taken eight wickets at 32.5 in the first two Tests.
“I’ve felt fairly good. I used to be most likely a bit of bit underdone for that World Test Championship after which received prepared for the primary sport,” Hazlewood stated.
“I did not appear too rusty once I was on the market within the center. Once you get that large day of workload beneath you, you are feeling so much higher for the run.
“I felt better and better as I was going along. Hopefully after that little break, I’ll coming out firing again.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
