Ashes 2023: "Josh Hazlewood Has Got To Really Prove Himself" - Ian Healy

Former Australian cricketer Ian Healy has urged the Australia National Cricket Team pacers to bowl better than they previously have in England.

The Aussies have not won a single Test series in England since 2001. They did defend their Ashes urn in the last series in England, but that came as the result of a 2-2 series draw.

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With Australia in the World Test Championship Final, and England picking up their Test form, the 2023 Ashes promises to be one of the most exciting Test series this year.

Also read: Ashes 2023: “I Thought That Was A Little Bit Of A Weird Choice” – England’s Coach Matthew Mott On Australia’s Squad For Ashes

In a recent interview with SENQ Breakfast, Ian Healy highlighted the most important players that need to click for Australia to succeed and break the 22-year-long streak.

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“What’s important to Australia are performing opening batsmen and performing quicks,” he said.

Also read: Ashes 2023: England Will Target David Warner Due To His Bad Form, Says Michael Atherton

Following with his opinion on the Australian bowling attack, Ian Healy said –

“Our quicks have never done a great job and gone through England, have they, in 20 years when we’ve bowled in England. We’ve got to be better with our fast-bowling spells in England.”

Ian Healy has said that the premier right-arm pacer Josh Hazlewood needs to “really prove himself” ahead of the marquee Ashes series as he has been out of action for 4 months with an injury.

“Hazlewood’s got to really prove himself,” he replied when questioned about how settled the lineup is.

“He’s just coming back… in the IPL. That’s been a four-month Achilles strain, not even surgery. I don’t want him spending that much time on his injuries. That’s what Shane Watson had to do at the end of his career, he was eight weeks for a calf (strain).

“So I don’t think that’s sorted. Is it Boland? He’s the only spare bowler we’ve got… or do they play an all-rounder. They’ve got Cameron Green, do they use Mitch Marsh as well? They’ve got some options, it’s about time we played a bit better in England.”

It must be noted that two out of Australia’s three front-line seamers – Pat Cummins and Josh Hazelwood, average better in England than at home. The only exception here is Mitchell Starc.

Ian Healy believes that BazBall will work in Australia’s favor in Ashes 2023

Ian Healy believes that ‘Baz Ball’, an attacking strategy that England has developed under their Test head coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes, will work in favor of Australian pacers in the upcoming Ashes 2023.

Claiming that attacking shots from English batters will compel the Aussies to bowl better, Ian Healy said this –

“Our bowlers will be straightened up by ‘Baz Ball’… good bowling might be quite easy to do when you’re so hyped up and ready to play against aggressive batting.”

Also read: Ashes 2023: “He Has Overcome Bigger Things And I’m Sure That He Will Be Ready For The Ashes” – Mark Wood On Jofra Archer

Running from June 16 to July 31, this year’s Ashes series will begin right after Australia’s World Test Championship Final against India in what will a a crucial two months for the Kangaroos.

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