• Hazlewood picked up a side strain during the first Test against West Indies.
• He then ruled himself out from playing Boxing Day Test against South Africa.
• Hazlewood feels that the fast-bowling hierarchy is still intact in Australian team.

Right-arm fast bowler Josh Hazlewood of Australia attributed his latest injury to the fact that it occurred at the wrong time of the year, ahead of the Sydney Test match against South Africa beginning on January 4.

Hazlewood missed the rest of the first Test against the West Indies in Perth because to a side injury. The Boxing Day Test against South Africa in Melbourne was then out of the question for him, and he is now close to making a comeback in the longer format at Sydney.

“It’s frustrating, definitely. I don’t feel like I’ve been injured much…it just happens to be at the wrong time of the year, after the first Test. The Test matches are so close together now. Apart from that, (for) the rest of the 24 months I’ve been fit and firing. So it’s frustrating when you think about it like that,” Hazlewood was quoted

Incidentally, Hazlewood’s Test summer in 2016 was cut short by a same ailment he sustained during the Ashes opener at Brisbane in 2017.  “I think it’s just part of fast bowling that it’s a strength issue at times and it’s a workload issue at times. Nothing too much to worry about, just little things I’ll need to tick off in the future,” he added.

Hazlewood may participate in the match at his home stadium since Mitchell Starc and Cameron Green are unable to play in the Sydney Test owing to injuries, despite the temptation to field two spinners on a pitch that favours spin. Additionally, he believes that the Australian squad, which still has fast-bowling alternatives in skipper Pat Cummins and pacer Scott Boland, still maintains the fast-bowling hierarchy.

“I still feel like it’s in place. It’s always good to have pressure and every time Scotty’s played, he’s done remarkably well. With the Ashes coming up as well, it’s a big one that he’s looking at and he’s a similar bowler to myself and Pat – we could potentially all play there together on a wicket that might seam and swing. It’s great to have options and it keeps you on your toes.”

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