Josh Hazlewood bowled at full pace on Monday during an extra centre-wicket practice session at the Adelaide Oval, strengthening the case for the Australian paceman to be recalled for the third Test in Brisbane.
Hazlewood dropped out of Australia’s XI for the second Test against India due to a minor side strain, paving the way for Scott Boland to play his first match since last year’s Ashes series in the UK.
Boland bowled with trademark consistency in Adelaide, returning match figures of 5-105, but is no guarantee to feature in the next fixture at the Gabba, starting on Saturday.
As his teammates enjoyed a round of golf following the team’s comprehensive 10-wicket win inside three days to level the Border-Gavaskar series at 1-1, Hazlewood had two short bowling sessions – around 20 minutes each – on the Adelaide Oval to replicate back-to-back spells in a game.
Head coach Andrew McDonald, bowling coach Daniel Vettori and selector Tony Dodemaide were keen observers as Hazlewood came in off his full run-up, bowling on a pitch near the strip used in the Test.
The 33-year-old’s pace looked good and there was nothing to indicate the injury was hampering his bowling action.
Josh Hazlewood bowls at the Adelaide Oval on Monday.Credit: Channel 9
Captain Pat Cummins said after play on Sunday he was “fairly confident” Hazlewood would be fit for the Gabba fixture, but how the 71-Test veteran recovers after training will be the key factor when it comes to selection.
“It’ll be how I pull up in the 24 hours following it, really,” Hazlewood said. “Obviously two spells makes a big difference. Cooling down pretty much fully and then going again in the same day … the intensity has got to be right up there as well.
“The side’s obviously been a troublesome area for me in the past … but it’s very minor compared to the last few I’ve had.
“I think if this was the last Test of the summer, I could have potentially run the gauntlet and played. I think I would have been in a pretty bad state by the end of the game, even though it was only a short game. It just wasn’t quite right.”
Hazlewood has 34 wickets this year – more than any of his Australian teammates – and boasts the best average of any bowler in the world (13.35) with more than five wickets.
Boland’s success in Adelaide gives selectors the luxury of not having to rush Hazlewood back. However, the prospect of dropping Boland for Hazlewood to return for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne would not go down well with Victorian fans, to whom Boland is a local hero.
“In these conditions, pink ball under lights, there’s not many better,” Hazlewood said of Boland. “He just sticks to his guns. He does his job. He doesn’t try and be anyone else. Whether he’s playing for Victoria or Australia, it’s the same thing. We’ve seen him take multiple wickets in an over, so I think once he gets on a roll, it’s just bang, bang, bang.”
Hazlewood was also asked for his thoughts on suggestions from former Test players Adam Gilchrist and Michael Vaughan that Australia’s dressing room was divided after the team’s defeat in Perth.
After play on day three, a frustrated Hazlewood had been asked what his plans were for the following day, with Australia needing a further 522 runs to beat India.
“You probably have to ask one of the batters that question,” Hazlewood replied.
Hazlewood expressed surprise that his comment had caused such a stir.
“A little bit surprised,” Hazlewood said. “Walking out of that press conference, I thought nothing of it, [it was] a normal one for me. I think obviously the dead air there for a while, 10 days between games, [it was] something to talk about.”
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