Ahead of the Ashes, scheduled to begin later this month, Josh Hazlewood has called for more all-rounders in the playing XI to share the workload with the ageing fast bowlers during the long, gruelling five-match series at home.
With the Ashes three weeks away, Australia’s playing eleven is far from settled, and there are still spots up for grabs. In recent months, there has been much discussion about the team’s balance. Since his debut last summer, Beau Webster has been brilliant for Australia, as has Cameron Green, who has started bowling again. However, it will be difficult for Australia to fit both seam-bowling all-rounders into the eleven.
“The first player picked [should be] an all-rounder, I think,” Hazlewood said after his Player of the Match performance on Friday. “Going back to those 20-odd Test matches we played with no all-rounder, they were hard yards. So if [they] can be in the team, be it bowling — [Cam Green] Greeny is obviously an outstanding player, Beau has done great for us whenever he’s played — the more the merrier, I say. They can bowl as much as they want.”
After helping his team win the second T20I in Melbourne, Hazlewood will play a Sheffield Shield match against Victoria at the SCG, starting on 10 November. Last year, Hazlewood was unable to take full part in the home summer after sustaining an injury, which has made him cautious ahead of the upcoming Ashes series.
“Everything’s going swimmingly now,” Hazlewood said. “I think I can’t really say if it’s worked perfectly until probably after the summer. If I get through everything, it’s probably the template moving forward — to put myself in the best position to play as many games as possible. Still resting the odd one here and there, if it doesn’t sort of match up with travel or turnarounds and stuff like that.”
Australia will be without their captain, Pat Cummins. Steve Smith will lead the side in the Ashes opener at Optus Stadium in Perth from November 21.
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