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"Bowling The Best Of My Career" Josh Hazlewood Declares Peak Form Ahead Of WTC Final 2025

Sakshi Sharma

Josh Hazlewood in the Aussie camp (Source:@ICC,x.com)Josh Hazlewood in the Aussie camp (Source:@ICC,x.com)

Josh Hazlewood has declared himself ready for the World Test Championship (WTC) final starting on Wednesday (June 11). RCB's star bowler said he is in career-best form as Australia prepares to face South Africa at Lord’s. The seasoned fast bowler is in a tight battle with Scott Boland for the final pace spot in the XI, with skipper Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc already locked in.

It is important to mention that Josh Hazlewood missed the 2023 WTC final due to fitness concerns. This time around, the pacer has declared himself in top physical and mental shape after a strong IPL campaign with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in IPL 2025. 

"I was obviously quite close last time," Hazlewood said, referring to the 2023 WTC final, which he missed. "I just had a more interrupted IPL leading into that, and a few issues going on, so wasn't quite up to scratch. But I feel in a much better place this time around. I still feel like I'm bowling probably the best of my career. It's just a matter of the body holding up - and it has been in the last few months," he said as quoted by Livemint. 

Hazlewood has not played in the Test format since the Border-Gavaskar series, where a calf injury ended his campaign at the Gabba. A side strain had earlier ruled him out of the Adelaide Test. 

Training Intensity Builds At Lord’s

Having bowled five controlled overs with the Dukes ball during an optional session on Saturday, Hazlewood is scheduled for a high-intensity, match-simulation session on Sunday at Lord’s.

"The intensity is probably the big one to tick off. We've been adapting training to get in those back-to-back days, a big session followed by another the next day, just to get used to the demands again. I ticked over some good overs just before the final in Ahmedabad - in different weather than this," he added.

Selection Dilemma For Australia

With Hazlewood’s recent form, selectors must now decide whether to lean on his experience or back Boland’s consistent success in recent Tests. Either way, Australia will head into the final with a formidable pace trio as they look to defend their WTC title.