“People say we played India B in that last Test” – Josh Hazlewood keen to beat India in Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Australian ace pacer Josh Hazlewood is keen to beat defending champions India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time since the 2014-15 series. However, he also warned that Team India can beat any team owing to their batting and bowling depths.
The Aussies were on top after winning the opening Test by eight wickets in the 2020-21 series. Several Indian players sustained injuries during that tour too. However, the Ajinkya Rahane-led bounced back strongly, sealing the series 2-1 with a memorable victory at the Gabba in Brisbane.
In that context, Josh Hazlewood said (via ESPNcricinfo):
"There are quite a few players who have never beaten India in a Test series. It's quite astounding to say that. That's one we need to tick off, definitely, in particular at home - we should pretty much win every series here at home.
"That last series we obviously bowled them out for 36 in Adelaide and we thought here we go, [we are] back at home [and] confident on these grounds. People say we played India B in that last Test, but they can sometimes be stronger than the best team. They've got unbelievable depth in all formats and we are starting to see that now."
Hazlewood picked up 13 and 17 wickets in his four Tests in the 2018-19 and 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against India respectively. Australia lost both series by identical 2-1 margins.
Hazlewood also opened up about the importance of the Test series, given that defending champions Australia are second in the World Test Championship points table. The pacer is excited to possibly play the WTC final, which he missed due to an injury last time.
"It's always in the background, we have the table up [to see] where we are sitting and what we need to tick off," he said. "For me, it's a big one because I didn't get to play the last one in England so that's a burning one for me."
“That will be a massive challenge for all us bowlers” – Nathan Lyon warns Australia about Yashasvi Jaiswal ahead of Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Nathan Lyon, meanwhile, has warned Australia about India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
The veteran off-spinner reminded everyone of Jaiswal’s carnage in the Test series against England earlier this year. He also spoke about his conversation with England spinner Tom Harley on how to tackle the left-handed batter.
"I haven't come across him [Jaiswal] yet, but that will be a massive challenge for all us bowlers. The way he played against England, I watched that quite closely and thought that was quite amazing. I had some really good chats with Tom Hartley about different ways he went about it to different guys which I found quite interesting," Lyon told ESPNcricinfo.
"I love talking about cricket, so if I can talk to someone who has played Test cricket I might be able to pick up something I'm not aware of. There's so much knowledge floating around this game that we can always tap into," he added.
Jaiswal emerged as the leading run-getter in the five-match Test series against England. The southpaw scored 712 runs in nine innings at an average of 89, with the help of two double centuries and three fifties.
Hartley dismissed him in one of the innings. Jaiswal got out to spinners on five out of eight occasions.
Lyon, meanwhile, bagged 21 and nine wickets in his four Tests at the 2018-19 and 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy respectively.