T20 World Cup 2021: Josh Hazlewood Provides Update On Marcus Stoinis' Injury

Josh Hazlewood is optimistic about all-rounder Marcus Stoinis being fit for Australia‘s T20 World Cup opening match – versus South Africa on October 23 in Abu Dhabi.

Stoinis suffered an injury last month while playing for Delhi Capitals in the IPL 2021. He sat out for a few matches before returning for Qualifier 2 last week. He scored 18 runs off 23 balls and didn’t come on to bowl.

Josh Hazlewood revealed that the all-rounder has been feeling “pretty good” about his fitness and will be monitored during the warm-up matches.

“I guess that’s a positive sign, I think he seems pretty good, I know he didn’t bowl the last game he played but he played as a batsman and felt pretty good I think,” Josh Hazlewood told SEN’s Gilly and Goss on Monday.

“We’ll see over the next few days, we’ve got a few warm-up games and a few training sessions,” he added.

It’s good going in with a bit of form and a bit of continuity: Josh Hazlewood

Josh Hazlewood had a memorable second half of the IPL 2021. He picked 11 wickets in 9 matches, bowling at an economy of 8.37, and helped CSK to their fourth IPL title.

The lanky pacer has so far in his international career played only 17 T20Is as he has been rested often. He underlined that the experience of playing high-intensity games in the IPL will keep him in good stead going into the World Cup.

“For me, the T20 stuff is just about playing games and learning all the time and developing my arsenal. I’ve been able to do that over the last two years and leading into the 2016 T20 World Cup, I hardly played a game for a number of years. It’s just good going in with a bit of form and a bit of continuity as well in that format.

“I think the keenness is a big statement, and there are a lot of guys chomping at the bit to get out there.

“Patty (Cummins) and Matty (Wade), these guys haven’t played much cricket over the last few months, and obviously Steve Smith and Davey Warner have been watching a bit of cricket the last few weeks instead of playing,” the 30-year-old seamer stated.

After the South Africa game, Australia will face England and West Indies as well. Australia have never won the T20 World Cup.

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