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NEW DELHI: Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood hopes to play in the third Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test at the Gabba. His availability depends on how he recovers in the next 24 hours. Hazlewood underwent a rigorous bowling session at Adelaide Oval, simulating Test match intensity.
The session involved multiple spells at near full pace, followed by cool-down periods and repeated high-intensity bowling. Hazlewood will assess his recovery over the next day to determine his readiness for the Gabba Test.
Border-Gavaskar Trophy
“I think it’ll be how I pull up in the 24 hours following it,” Hazlewood was quoted as saying by Cricket Australia.
“Cooling down pretty much fully and then going again in the same day, with the intensity right up there, is important. It’s probably the 24 hours that follow and pulling up again the next day that will tell me if I’d be ready to go again if I had to,” the pacer added.
A minor side strain sustained during the first Test in Perth kept Hazlewood out of Australia’s victory in Adelaide. He has a history of side strains that have hampered him in recent years. Hazlewood acknowledges the frustration of recurring side injuries. However, he emphasized the value of experience in managing these setbacks.
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“It’s not necessarily your typical side strain. It’s caused me a lot of trouble over the last few years, but I’ve become very well aware of the area and how the feelings are. I know what I can get through and what I can’t. That experience makes my decisions a little bit easier,” he said.
Hazlewood admitted that he might have risked playing in Adelaide if it were the final match of the summer. He felt he wouldn’t have been in good shape by the game’s conclusion.
“I think I would have been in a pretty bad state by the end of the game. It just wasn’t quite right,” Hazlewood said.
If Hazlewood is fit, selectors face a difficult choice between him and Scott Boland. Boland’s impressive performance in Adelaide, taking 5 wickets for 105 runs, complicates the decision.
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The third Test marks a return to red-ball cricket after the pink ball was used in Adelaide. Hazlewood believes this switch benefits Australia. He noted the tendency of the pink ball to soften quickly on the hard Brisbane pitch. Hazlewood expressed a preference for the red ball and the Gabba pitch. He sees it as advantageous for the Australian team.
“The pink ball gets quite soft in Brisbane quite early, with the wicket being quite hard. But we’re back to the red ball there, which suits us. It’s a place we like to play. It suits our guys,” he said.
Although historically a stronghold for Australia, the Gabba has witnessed two significant Australian defeats in recent years. These include a historic three-wicket loss to India in 2021 and an eight-run defeat to the West Indies last summer.
Hazlewood remains confident in Australia’s ability to regain their dominance at the Gabba. He cites the team’s experience at the venue as a key factor.
Hazlewood expresses optimism about his prospects for the Gabba Test. He is confident in his ability to perform at his best if he recovers well and said: “If I pull up well, I’m confident I can give it everything at the Gabba.”
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