Australia’s Josh Hazlewood provides the decisive WTC boost

Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood believes he can compete in the World Test Championship final against India if he can endure arduous training sessions over the next week. Josh Hazlewood missed the majority of the Indian Premier League due to discomfort concerns.

The decision to remove Josh Hazlewood from the IPL midway was reportedly made as a precaution, and diagnostics revealed no side injury. In addition, Hazlewood only bowled nine overs for Royal Challengers Bangalore during their IPL campaign, collecting three wickets before returning home in preparation for his journey to the United Kingdom. The pacer missed four Tests in the 2021-22 home Ashes series and three more last summer against the West Indies and South Africa due to two side ailments in the previous two years.

However, he was able to complete bowling sessions in Sydney before traveling to England with the team last week. The group held their first official training session in England on Tuesday in Formby, West Lancashire, with Hazlewood going virtually full tilt after a solo easy bowl shortly after their arrival. Josh asserted that he is nearing his maximum potential but that he would need to bowl for at least a week before he could be considered fit to play in the WTC final against India, which begins next Wednesday at the Oval in London.

My endurance level is quite good. Josh Hazlewood

“My fitness level is quite excellent. Essentially, it is a matter of marking off each session from now until that date.

In T20, each over consists of bowling a variety of distinct balls. Josh Hazlewood told the ICC that a wide yorker, a bouncer, and a slower ball caused the side to become jammed, and scar tissue from previous injuries cropped up.

“It settled down relatively soon. I didn’t quite get back to 100 percent at the IPL after a week off, but my last few bowls have been excellent, and I’ve been building nicely,” he added.

Josh Hazlewood has only appeared in four of Australia’s last 19 Tests, and he has not played consecutive first-class matches since early 2021. In the meantime, he will likely need to complete two effective bowling sessions on Thursday and Saturday in order to compete in the WTC final.

The Indian cricket team will face Australia in the World Test Championship (WTC) final, which will commence on June 7. The Indian Premier League has just concluded.