IND vs AUS: Josh Hazlewood Says Injury Lay-Off Before India Tour Was ‘Blessing in Disguise’

Fast-medium bowler Josh Hazlewood says his recent three-week injury lay-off was a ‘blessing in disguise’ ahead of Australia’s limited over tour of India. Hazlewood, who has often been compared to the legendary Glenn McGrath for his accuracy, was forced out of last month’s Perth Test against New Zealand due to a low-grade hamstring tear.

“It’s maybe a blessing in disguise for this (Indian) tour having these couple of games,” Hazlewood was quoted as saying in the ‘Sydney Morning Herald’.

The upcoming series starts January 14 in Mumbai. The second ODI will be played in Rajkot on January 17 and third in Bengaluru on January 19.

The injury forced Hazlewood to miss the remaining two Test matches against New Zealand in Melbourne and Sydney.

The 29-year-old pacer has made his return to white-ball cricket with the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League (BBL), and he impressed with his economy rate.

Omitted surprisingly from last year’s World Cup squad, Hazlewood, who last played an ODI in November 2018, was recalled for the Indian tour.

“I’m happy with what I’ve done in the first two (BBL) games and happy I’ve got two white-ball games under the belt.

“Patty (Cummins) and Mitchell Starc are going to face coming straight from red-ball cricket into a one-day series and maybe not have as much time to work on those variations,” Hazlewood said.

Australia Squad: Aaron Finch (C), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb (wk), Josh Hazlewood, Marnus Labuschagne, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Ashton Turner, David Warner, Adam Zampa.