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"Prioritised RCB Over Australia": Ex-Star Blames Hazlewood For  WTC 2025 Final Defeat

Abhinav Tyagi

Josh Hazlewood For both teams - (Source : AP)Josh Hazlewood For both teams - (Source : AP)

On Saturday, June 14, Australia suffered heartbreak against South Africa, losing by five wickets in the World Test Championship (WTC) final. This marked only the fourth time the Kangaroos have lost an ICC final.

Skipper Pat Cummins praised his team’s efforts but hinted at possible changes moving forward. In the latest developments, former Australian seamer Mitchell Johnson has criticized the bowling attack, particularly targeting Josh Hazlewood for prioritizing the IPL over national team commitments.

“Our successful ‘big four’ bowling attack of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, and Nathan Lyon can’t be taken for granted as a lock going forward either. We’ve seen concerns about Hazlewood’s fitness in recent years, and his decision to prioritise returning to the delayed IPL over his national team preparations raised eyebrows. Lyon didn’t look his best on day three either,” Johnson said, as quoted by News18.

Why Did Johnson Criticize Hazlewood?

The IPL was originally scheduled from March 22 to May 25 but was suspended for a week due to unforeseen circumstances, pushing the league until June 3. This postponement created complications for South African and Australian stars, as the WTC final was set to begin on June 11.

Most players chose to leave the IPL after the league stage, while a few, like Mitchell Starc, refused to return to India. However, Hazlewood agreed to play until the end, featuring in the final for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on June 3.

Hazlewood then joined the Australian camp in London, leaving him with less time to prepare for the WTC final. Notably, the right-arm seamer did not have his best outing, taking only two wickets in the match.

Johnson Pushes for Players with Hunger

This was the first time in Hazlewood’s career that he lost a final. With a crucial Ashes series later this year, Johnson has advised Cricket Australia to consider bringing in hungrier, younger players.

“If veteran players are sticking around just for the Ashes as a send-off, it does beg the question of whether that’s the right mindset. It’s crucial that we embrace the future and build confidence in selecting our next Test players,” Johnson added.

The 2025 Ashes will take place in Australia and start from November 21 and go on till January 8.