"It probably speaks for itself" - Josh Hazlewood on Australia's struggles on day three of BGT 2024/25 1st Test
Australia seamer Josh Hazlewood admitted day three of the ongoing Perth Test against India was a tough day for them as a team. The right-arm fast bowler revealed that certain stages of the day at the Optus Stadium were massively challenging.
Although Hazlewood was the most economical bowler for Australia, he wasn't penetrative enough for them to gain control of the contest. Team India had resumed day three on 172/0 and added another 315 runs before declaring at 487/6. Later, the Indian new-ball bowlers took three wickets to leave the hosts reeling at 12/3.
Speaking at a presser after day three, the veteran seamer observed that once batters got through the new ball, they could control the tempo. Hazlewood said, as quoted by Fox Sports:
"It’s up there. I think it probably speaks for itself. They piled on the runs and had a couple of really big partnerships there. It was hard work out there bowling it at certain stages. There was a little bit in it at times. I guess the new ball probably has a little bit, but if you get through that, then it’s a bit easier batting. We saw a little bit up and down towards the end of the day, obviously, so that’ll be something the batters will be watching tomorrow."
Hazlewood, who toiled for 21 overs, conceded only 28 runs but managed just a wicket. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli struck centuries as India declared before 20 minutes before stumps.
Josh Hazlewood hopes Australia batters can bat long on day four
With Australia folding for a woeful 104 in their first innings, the New South Wales seamer hopes the batters can force India's bowlers into more spells, given it's a long series. He added:
"It’s (about) the batters sticking to their plans tomorrow (and) batting some time. It’s obviously a long series. It’s a five-match series. So if we can put some overs into their top quicks, I guess that’s probably (a) couple of goals that we need to tick off tomorrow. And if a couple of guys find some form and score, you know, an 80 or 90 or even 100, that’s probably (one of) the positives we can take out of it."
Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja will be in the middle when Australia head out to start day four.