ICC World Cup 2023: Josh Hazlewood Out Of World Cup? Australia Pacer Provides Massive Update On His Availability

Josh Hazlewood has given an insight into how Australia could line up in the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023. The most successful side in the history of the ODI World Cup, Australia will be one of the favorites for the competition.

They proved their title credentials by beating India in the three-match ODI series in India earlier this year. After losing the first ODI, the team from Down Under bounced back in style to win the series by winning the second and third games. The five-time world champions have a formidable team and will be eyeing a record-extending sixth World Cup title.

And ahead of the World Cup, Josh Hazlewood has opened up on his team’s potential strategy for the marquee event. Currently sitting at No. 2 on the ICC’s ODI bowling rankings, Josh Hazlewood has revealed that Australia would not shy away from dropping any player from the team for team balance in the subcontinental conditions.

“In India, you face so many different conditions all around the country. It changes from Chennai to Dharamshala to Mumbai,” Josh Hazlewood was quoted as saying by Fox Cricket.

“We’ve got a few different ways we can stack our team. We’ve got obviously the all-rounders, we’ve got a number of them, they can pretty much all play together at times when they’re all fit.

“We can go the quicks route, play three quicks, or even less, then we’ve got the spinners that come into play as well. Sometimes in a tournament, the further you go in, the wickets get a bit worn towards the back-end, so I think the team can stack up any different way,” he added.

Australia did not shy away from experimenting with the team combination during the ODI series against India earlier this year. For the Mumbai ODI, they picked only three specialist bowlers before going with two frontline spinners for the game in Chennai.

Josh Hazlewood eyes World Cup success:

Josh Hazlewood will be looking to make a mark in the upcoming World Cup. Part of the Australian team that won the competition in 2015, the right-arm pacer failed to find a spot in the team for the 2019 World Cup. However, he is set to be a key member of the team for the upcoming edition.

Josh Hazlewood has been one of the best bowlers in the world in recent months. Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, he has taken 30 wickets at 25.43 with an economy rate of just 4.18. Australia will open its campaign in World Cup on October 8 with a mouthwatering clash against hosts India in Chennai.