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"Body feels strong as ever": Hazlewood shuts retirement talks despite injury amid Ashes

Soumyajit Dutta

Josh Hazlewood [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/X.com]Josh Hazlewood [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/X.com]

Australia pacer Josh Hazlewood has been sidelined from the ongoing Ashes tour, where he won’t be featuring against England anymore this season. Hazlewood was snubbed because of a hamstring injury he sustained during the Sheffield Shield last month and hasn’t recovered enough to come back to the fray again.

This raised concerns over whether the veteran pacer would continue his career or give it a rest in one of the three formats. However, clearing all confusion, Hazlewood guaranteed his participation.

Hazlewood speaks on current physical condition

Speaking to Sydney's Daily Telegraph, Josh Hazlewood confirmed that he still feels physically strong and is determined to play all three formats to his fullest extent.

"Yeah absolutely. My body still feels as strong as ever. It's just little things here and there that creep in. I'm still determined to play three formats as best I can,” Hazlewood said.

The 34-year-old stressed on missing a few games in between while underlining the fact that no fast bowler can play each series consecutively without any injury or any rest time.

"You're still going to miss the odd game here and there, no one can do it all, unless you're a batter, but I still enjoy all the different demands of the three formats. It keeps it fresh getting ready and preparing for each different format," Hazlewood added.

Hazlewood aims for future tournaments

Nevertheless, the ace veteran will focus on recovering now for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, which commences on February 7 and will be hosted by India and Sri Lanka. While pointing out the fact that he could have joined for one or two Tests scheduled for January, Hazlewood believes in giving it complete rest rather than chasing the tail.

"Once you're injured mid-series or just before a series starts, you're chasing your tail a lot of the time anyway. I probably could have got back for one or two tests with the hamstring, but then you leave yourself quite vulnerable going into a test match on the back of not much. Once you're injured mid-series or just before a series starts, you're chasing your tail a lot of the time anyway. Obviously things are easier when you're up and going and you've got some good work under you," Hazlewood concluded.

Australia will play the remaining three Test matches of the Ashes, with two scheduled for December and the concluding one scheduled for January 4 in Sydney. That will be their last game of the series before the Men's T20 World Cup begins, with their curtain-raiser scheduled against Ireland on February 11 in Colombo.