Josh Hazlewood rested for remaining matches against India
Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood has been given a break for the remainder of the home international cricket season. It has been a very busy summer for the 25 year-old right arm fast-bowler as he has been the leader of the Australian pace attack, after the retirement of Mitchell Johnson and sudden injury to Mitchell Starc.
Commenting on the decision Australian team coach Darren Lehmann said, "Josh has played all six Tests this summer and has had a high workload. On that basis the decision has been made to give him a break to allow him to recharge both physically and mentally ahead of the (February) tour of New Zealand.”
Lehmann also added, "We regard it as sensible management of the player and it is an approach that we have adopted successfully in Australian cricket over a significant period of time, especially in the one-day format.”
The Australia squad for the final two matches of the India series, at Canberra’s Manuka Oval and the SCG, will be announced after the third ODI on January 16.
The reigning World Champions have comprehensively beaten India in the first two ODI’s and took a 2-0 lead in the five match series. They will be looking to seal the series at MCG on Sunday.
Hazlewood played the first ODI against India at WACA on January 12. Australia won the match by five wickets. Hazlewood picked up one wicket for 41 runs from his scheduled 10 overs.
Hazlewood was replaced by John Hastings in Australia’s seven-wicket victory in the second ODI at the Gabba. Hastings took one for 46 from his eight overs in that match. He will remain with the team for the third match at the MCG on Sunday.
At 17, Josh Hazlewood became the youngest fast bowler to be selected by New South Wales when he faced New Zealand in November 2008. Less than two years later he played in his first one-day international against England at Southampton.
He had to wait until 2013 to add to his ODI tally and make his T20 international debut. But along the way the selectors had indicated he was in also in their Test plans. He was initially chosen for Australia's Test tour of India in late 2010 but was withdrawn due to a back stress injury. He was again part of Australia's Test squad for the home series against South Africa in 2012-13, although a baggy green still eluded him.
Hazlewood made his Test debut against India in 2014. He has played 15 Tests and 14 ODI’s for Australia. He has 61 Test wickets and 20 ODI wickets to his name.