'It Has Probably Been A Tactic All The Time Here In Australia'- Josh Hazlewood Reveals The Plan Australia Might Rely On Against India In The Test Series

Australian seamer Josh Hazlewood will have his task cut out once again when India and Australia take on each other in a four-match Test series. Australia will inevitably want to avenge their loss on their soil against India that they suffered in 2018-19 and will go to any lengths to achieve it. Josh Hazlewood, who is one of the most challenging bowlers to put away, underlined his plans to bounce out the visitors’ batsmen.

Josh Hazlewood was part of Australia’s bowling attack the last time both teams faced each other and he faced a torrid time. The 28-year old took 13 wickets in four matches at 30.62; however, it was not enough to prevent their first series loss on home soil to India. Yet, Hazlewood has been a formidable source this summer, especially in white-ball cricket, being a consistent performer in the three-match ODI series. Notably, the right-arm seamer managed to take Virat Kohli’s wicket in all three ODIs.

Josh Hazlewood admitted that if they do not get wickets by pitching the ball up, they would indeed deploy the short-ball tactic with a leg-side field. The same has been a part of the game here in Australia from both sides. Hazlewood added that considering the bounce and pace in Australia as compared to most countries apart from the wickets being flat, the short-pitched deliveries have been a weapon.

“I guess, if we are not getting results on the front-foot, we will challenge, at different times, with the bouncer with the leg-side field. I think you know that has always been a part of the game here in Australia, probably from both sides. I think at different times yeah (we’ll use short deliveries). It has probably been a tactic all the time here in Australia with probably considering the bounce and pace compared to other countries and wickets tend to be flat from time to time,” Hazlewood stated as quoted by News18.

Josh Hazlewood wants Australia’s batsmen to spend as much time they could at the crease:

The New South Wales bowler observed the way Cheteshwar Pujara batted for long hours tirelessly in Australia and wants the home side’s batsmen doing the same, keeping the frontline bowlers for as long on the field and reap the benefits of it later in the series.

“I think what you probably saw was the bowlers not getting enough rest in between innings and (Cheteshwar) Pujara faced a lot of balls and I guess in a long series, that’s the batsman’s goal, one to score runs and to win that Test and to keep that frontline attack out on the field for as long as possible and obviously get the benefits of that later in the series which is what exactly happened last time around,” he added.

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