Josh Hazlewood backs Mitchell Starc to bowl new-ball for Australia

Mitchell Starc in action [Source: Associated Press]

Australian bowlers' inability to pick wickets upfront was labeled as one of the main reasons for their downfall in the recently concluded ICC T20 World Cup 2022. Despite having experienced fast bowlers like Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins, the trio performed far below their expectations.

Starc, who managed just three wickets, ended up losing his place in the playing XI in a crucial tie against Afghanistan. Regarded as one of the most devastating exponents of the new-ball/ swinging delivery, the 32-year-old has refrained from playing T20 leagues to prolong his Test career. 

However, Hazlewood, who used to share the new-ball with Starc in the 50-overs format, backed his teammate to come good in Australia's upcoming home series against England. 

“We thought that with his extra pace and if he could bash the length with bouncers on the wicket, that’s the way we’re going to get some wickets in the middle [overs]. Certainly it worked in a few of the games against the Windies before the World Cup and then sort of didn’t quite work out in the World Cup. 

But I think we’ll see him take that new ball in the one-dayers and swing it back down the line."

The right-handed bowler expressed his disappointment over Australia's poor run in the T20 World Cup, where they were the defending champions and crashed out in the Super 12 stage.

Australia under new skipper Cummins begin their three-match One-Day International (ODI) campaign from November 17. 

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