• Home
  • Who Said What
  • After That Little Break Josh Hazlewood Drops Subtle Hint About Australias Playing Xi

'After That Little Break...': Josh Hazlewood Drops Subtle Hint About Australia's Playing XI

image-lk7w4zz3Josh Hazlewood played their first and second Tests [AP Photo]

Once a surety in Australia's Test XI, pacer Josh Hazlewood has struggled to keep his place in the side due to several injuries. Hazlewood, who played the Edgasbton and Lord's Test in the ongoing Ashes 2023 series, missed the Leeds encounter due to a side strain, which Australia lost against hosts England. 

The Pat Cummins-led Australian side leads the Ashes 2023 2-1. However, ahead of the fourth Test at Manchester starting on Wednesday, Hazlewood has confirmed about regaining full match fitness, overcoming his initial rustiness from the first Test.

With Scott Boland's underperformance in the Headingley Test, both Hazlewood and Michael Neser are in contention for a spot.

Here's what Hazlewood said

"I have felt pretty good. I was probably a little bit underdone for that World Test Championship and then got ready for the first game. I didn't seem too rusty when I was out there in the middle. Once you get that big day of workload underneath you, you feel a lot better for the run. I felt better and better as I was going along. Hopefully after that little break, I'll come out firing again."

As quoted by Sportskeeda, the 32-year-old also explained the possible reason behind his omission from the third Test. 

"Missing Headingley, the reason was probably to set me up for the last two games. 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."

Hazlewood also missed Australia's WTC Final 2023 against India due to injury and was earlier ruled out of the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2023 with an Achilles issue.